Twenty new Kashubian language teachers have completed another educational cycle at the postgraduate course 'Teaching the Kashubian language'. They joined a group of 198 graduates who have been gaining their qualifications at the University of Gdańsk since 2012.
First from left are the Kashubian language examiners: prof. Marek Cybulski and Danuta Pioch, currently Chair of the Kashubian Language Council, who was among the first twelve graduates in 1998.
The first initiatives to train Kashubian language teachers at the UG had already appeared. In 1998, a unique exam was held, during which twelve participants presented their knowledge in front of a special committee consisting of prof. dr hab. Edward Breza, prof. dr hab. Jerzy Treder, dr Aleksander Klemp (Kashubian-Pomeranian Association) and Roman Tempski (Board of Education) and - at that time still a doctor - prof. dr hab. Marek Cybulski.
The University of Gdańsk was the first institution in Poland to make it possible for teachers who were involved in education but did not have the opportunity to obtain qualifications to do so. Since 2012, when the 'Teaching Kashubian Language' course reappeared in the UG's offer, the university has educated a quarter of a thousand graduates. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the beginning of this initiative.
In addition, in 2000 and 2002, under the direction of prof. Jerzy Treder, postgraduate qualification and methodological studies in Kashubian language teaching, trained 92 educators.
- 'The university launched the first edition of the "Teaching Kashubian Language" postgraduate course in 2012. Including graduates of Kashubian ethno-philology (full-time first-degree studies), in the new millennium, our Alma Mater has already produced a quarter of a thousand Kashubians with good linguistic competence and reliable knowledge of Kashuby and Kashubian studies. This is an important contribution to the development of Kashubian education,' - said dr Justyna Pomierska, head of postgraduate studies and chair of the Kashubian ethno-philology programme board.
The current programme of postgraduate studies – 'Teaching Kashubian Language', assumes three semesters of study, during which participants will attend 350 hours of classes and complete 90 hours of teaching practice. The next edition is scheduled for the winter semester of 2023/2024, with recruitment starting on March 22, 2023.