Education for Sami children
In Sweden, according to the 2009 Language Act, members of an official Swedish minority have the legal right to learn their minority languages, even if they are not spoken at home. There are three Sami languages: Northern, Eastern, and Southern Sami. About 45% of Sami speak Sami languages.
Since the 1600s, Sweden has had various policies for educating Sami youth and determining their place in society. The various institutions for education implemented for Sami children reflected a restriction of their growth and ability to self-identify. In addition, the Sami language was not actually a subject of instruction until the second half of the 20th century. Below is a timeline of policies surrounding the education of Sami children, emphasizing the restrictions placed on defining youth Sami identity.
Today
According to the Swedish National Agency for Education, there are currently five Sami schools in Sweden. These schools (sameskolor) are open to anyone who identifies as Sami or even children who are not Sami with special circumstances. Another option is to go to primary school and have integrated Sami instruction. In 1962, Sami became a subject taught in Sami schools, but only for two hours a week.
The Sami Language is Disappearing
According to a 2011 study by Lotta M. Omma, Lars E. Holmgren & Lars H. Jacobsson, 1/3 of young Sami surveyed in the study (516 out of 876) had not had instruction in the Sami language, despite it being their legal right. In addition, 64% did not learn about the Sami in school. This lack of instruction has consequences for the Sami community, as a lack of understanding of Sami culture leads to discrimination, including harmful stereotypes or limited expectations of Sami youth. These negative impressions of Sami children in school can lead to lower self-esteems and mental illnesses such as depression. However, 92% of the surveyed Sami agreed that it is important to preserve Sami culture.
According to a 2011 study by Lotta M. Omma, Lars E. Holmgren & Lars H. Jacobsson, 1/3 of young Sami surveyed in the study (516 out of 876) had not had instruction in the Sami language, despite it being their legal right. In addition, 64% did not learn about the Sami in school. This lack of instruction has consequences for the Sami community, as a lack of understanding of Sami culture leads to discrimination, including harmful stereotypes or limited expectations of Sami youth. These negative impressions of Sami children in school can lead to lower self-esteems and mental illnesses such as depression. However, 92% of the surveyed Sami agreed that it is important to preserve Sami culture.
Even in communities with lower or nonexistent Sami populations, there needs to be more representation of Sami in textbooks and in the classroom.
Those who do receive instruction in Sami still have limited instruction. In Sami schools, intended for Sami youth, instruction is limited to two hours per week-- Is this enough time to learn a language? Depending on the school a child is enrolled in, instruction in minority languages varies. It can either be elected as the language of choice in school or outside of school time. There is no guaranteed instruction in schools and available options vary from school to school, making accessibility to Sami language instruction limited (Samer.se).
In addition to challenges in finding instructors to teach the Sami language outside of schools with formal Sami instruction, according to Samiskolstyrelsen, there is a lack of educated instructors to teach at Sami schools.
In addition to challenges in finding instructors to teach the Sami language outside of schools with formal Sami instruction, according to Samiskolstyrelsen, there is a lack of educated instructors to teach at Sami schools.
Statistics (Omma, Holmgren, & Jacobsson 2011):
71% have a close connection to a Sami community
Almost 50% have experienced discrimination
71% of reindeer herders have experienced ill-treatment
71% have a close connection to a Sami community
Almost 50% have experienced discrimination
71% of reindeer herders have experienced ill-treatment
Sami school locations: Sami schools are only located in the two northernmost counties in Sweden: Norrbotten and Västerbotten. While these are regions with higher Sami populations, people of Sami heritage live everywhere.
Definition of Sami Identity Created Through Educational Policies:
Definition of Sami Identity Created Through Educational Policies:
- Children of nomadic reindeer herders preserved as such
