Minister vows to improve language tuition

Education minister Hanna Jensen acknowledges that Faroese language learning for foreigners is in dire need of an overhaul.

The national curriculum is overseen by the Ministry of Education; however, in practice the municipal evening schools set their own curriculums for Faroese language courses. This leads to great differences in quality from one area to another, according to local councils across the islands.

They say it is wrong to leave the evening schools with the responsibility of something as crucial to integration as the teaching of Faroese as a foreign language.

New system in the making

“The current system is inadequate,” says Jensen. “It is too random and the requirements on teachers and students are too loose.”

The education ministry is now working on ways to improve the structure of language learning for foreign nationals.

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“Our new curriculum will be made in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This will set firmer standards, for instance with clearer requirements for teachers and students, teaching materials and examinations,” says the minister.

She aims to have the new curriculum completed before the general election, which is scheduled for August.

Translated by prosa.fo