Friesland

Fryslân

Country context

This essay pertains to the situation in the province of Fryslân and focuses on the particularities of that province (across the following domains: Languages in Official documents and databases, Pre-primary education, primary education and secondary education). It is recommended to read this essay together with the essay on the Netherlands. 

Fryslân is a province in the north of the Netherlands. It is a largely agricultural province (Provinsje Fryslân, 2010) and is not as densely populated as the country as a whole: 193 people/km2 compared to 491 nationwide (CBS, 2012). Fryslân’s nearly 650,000 inhabitants constitute about 4% of the total population of the Netherlands. The proportion of non-Western immigrants is 3.7%; this is considerably lower than the proportion of 11.4% for the Netherlands as a whole. People with an Iraqi, Moroccan, Surinamese, or Antillean background make up 39% of the non-western immigrants in Fryslân (CBS, 2011).

Frisian is the official language of the province, next to Dutch, making Fryslân the only officially bilingual province of the Netherlands. Slightly more than half of the population of Fryslân has Frisian as their mother tongue. The large majority of the inhabitants can understand the language either well (20%) or very well (65%). Three quarters of the population are able to speak Frisian at a reasonable to high level. Again three quarters of the population can read Frisian reasonably, well, or very well. However, only 12% can write well in Frisian (Provinsje Fryslân, 2011a).

Languages in official documents and databases

The national language, foreign languages and Frisian are dealt with in language legislation and language policy documents. Next to Dutch, Frisian enjoys the status of being a co-official language of the Netherlands. 

Official data collection mechanisms on language diversity in the Netherlands only exist for Frisian, in terms of periodically updated survey data. In these data collection mechanisms, Frisian is addressed, based on a home language question plus a language proficiency question in terms of whether (and how well) the language can be spoken/understood/read/written.

Frisian is the only minority language for which the Dutch government has ratified part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML); other regional languages are only recognized under part II. The ratification led to the setting up of the Advisory Body for the Frisian Language (“Consultatief orgaan Fries”) in 1998, an advisory body to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties, 2011). The national government also ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, in 2005, thereby recognising Frisians as a national minority (Riemersma & De Jong, 2007).

The legal position of Frisian was arranged in 1995 in the act “Algemene Wet Bestuursrecht”. In 2011, the government proposed a new bill on the use of the Frisian Language. The aim of the bill is to guarantee everybody the right to use their own language, Dutch or Frisian, in dealings with the judiciary and administration within the Province of Fryslân and thus to strengthen the possibilities of using the Frisian language. Furthermore, the bill foresees the institution of a Frisian Language Council. In practice, this means that the remit of the aforementioned Advisory Body is enlarged (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties, 2011). 

Most of the 27 municipalities in Fryslân have a specific language policy (Provinsje Fryslân, 2011a).

Within Fryslân there are two mechanisms for data collection on language diversity. First of all, extensive language surveys have been carried out in 1967, 1980, and 1994; the next survey round is being planned in the near future. Apart from that, every four years the Provincial authorities carry out a basic survey into Frisian language proficiency and use in the province (‘De Fryske taalatlas’). The first edition of this survey appeared in 2007; it provides the authorities in Fryslân with basic information to develop their language policy (Provinsje Fryslân, 2011a). These surveys do not provide information on immigrant languages; the focus is on the Frisian language.

Languages in pre-primary education

 

R/ML

Regional/Minority Languages

FL

Foreign Languages

IL

Immigrant Languages

Additional NL
support

National Languages
Target groups
R/ML:  all  native speakers only  no support 
FL:  all  restricted  no support 
IL:  all  native speakers only  no support
NL:  all  immigrant children only  no support 
3 none none 3
Duration
≥2 years 1 year <1 year  
3 none none 3
Minimum group size requirements
 none  5-10  >10
3 none none 3
Days per week
 >1 day  0.5-1 day  <0.5 day
3 none none 3
Pre-service teacher training
subject-specific general none
2 none none 2
In-service teacher training
subject-specific general none
2 none none 2
State funding available
full partial none
3 none none 3

Languages offered in pre-primary education

R/M Languages

Frisian

Foreign Languages

-

Immigrant Languages

-

There are over 130 bilingual (Dutch-Frisian) or Frisian playgroups in Friesland; around 35% of all playgroups in the province (Sintrum Frysktalige Berne-opfang, 2013). The centre for Frisian-language day care (“Sintrum Frysktalige Berne-opfang”) is responsible for running those playgroups (Riemersma & De Jong, 2007).

In teacher training for pre-primary education only general attention is paid to the multilingual situation in the province; teaching the Frisian language is not part of formal training.

Within pre-primary education, attention is paid to multilingualism as well as learning the national language and the minority language, but there is no provision for foreign and immigrant languages. EU recommendations are thus followed to a certain extent, but this could be improved even further.

Languages in primary education

Organisation

 

R/ML

Regional/Minority Languages

FL

Foreign Languages

IL

Immigrant Languages
Curriculum
coherent and explicit general no guidelines  
2 2 none
Languages used as a medium of instruction (CLIL)
  widespread localised absent  
2 2 none
Target groups
R/ML:  all  native speakers only  no support
FL:  all  restricted  no support
IL:  all  native speakers only  no support
3 3 none
Start of language education
from year 1 from mid-phase end-phase only  
3 1 none
Scheduling
in school hours partly in school hours  outside school hours   
3 3 none
Minimum group size requirements
none 5-10 >10  
3 3 none
Monitoring of language skills
national standardised  school based  absent   
1 2 none
Level to be achieved
Other NL: national or regional norms school norms not specified
FL: linked to CEFR national or school norms not specified
IL: national or regional norms school norms not specified
3 2 none
State funding available
full partial none  
3 3 1

 

NL

National Languages
Curriculum
coherent and explicit general no guidelines  
2
Extra support for newcomers
before mainstream during mainstream  absent   
3
Diagnostic testing on entry
all immigrants only absent  
1
Monitoring of language skills
national standardised  school based  absent   
3

Teaching

 

R/ML

Regional/Minority Languages

FL

Foreign Languages

IL

Immigrant Languages
Teacher qualifications
language teachers general teachers  unqualified   
3 2 none
Pre-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
3 2 none
In-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
2 3 none
Mobility
incorporated into training informal financial support no informal financial support not applicable  
0 1 0

 

NL

National Languages
Teacher qualifications
language teachers general teachers  unqualified   
2
Pre-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
3
In-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
2

Languages offered in primary education

R/M Languages

Frisian

Foreign Languages

Compulsory: English
Optional: French, German, Spanish

Immigrant Languages

-

Frisian language is a compulsory subject in primary education in Fryslân. In many cases the amount of time spent on Frisian, however, is less than one hour per week (Inspectie van het Onderwijs, 2010); this was deemed insufficient by the Committee of Experts of the ECRML, given the signed undertakings in part III of the ECRML (Council of Europe, 2008).

The national education laws permit the use of Frisian as language of instruction, and many schools do so. However, more time is spent on Frisian in the lower than in the higher grades. A quarter of all primary schools does not use Frisian as language of instruction at all (Inspectie van het Onderwijs, 2010).

The Education Inspectorate found that around 20% of teachers are not formally qualified to teach Frisian (ibidem).

Within primary education in Fryslân, there is no specific attention paid to immigrant languages.

Languages in secondary education

Organisation

 

R/ML

Regional/Minority Languages

FL

Foreign Languages

IL

Immigrant Languages
Curriculum
coherent and explicit general no guidelines  
2 2 none
Languages used as a medium of instruction (CLIL)
widespread localised absent  
2 2 none
Target groups
R/ML:  all  native speakers only  no support
FL:  all  restricted  no support
IL:  all  native speakers only  no support
3 3 none
Scheduling
in school hours partly in school hours outside school hours  
3 3 none
Minimum group size requirements
none 5-10 >10  
3 3 none
Monitoring of language skills
national standardised school based absent  
2 3 none
Level to be achieved
Other NL: national or regional norms school norms not specified not applicable
FL: linked to CEFR national or school norms not specified not applicable
IL: national or regional norms school norms not specified not applicable
3 2 none
State funding available
full partial none  
3 3 none

 

NL

National Languages
Curriculum
coherent and explicit general no guidelines  
2
Extra support for newcomers
before mainstream during mainstream absent  
3
Diagnostic testing on entry
all immigrants only absent  
1
Monitoring of language skills
national standardised school based absent  
2

Teaching

 

R/ML

Regional/Minority Languages

FL

Foreign Languages

IL

Immigrant Languages
Teacher qualifications
language teachers general teachers unqualified  
2 3 none
Pre-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
3 3 none
In-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
2 3 none
Mobility
incorporated into training some financial support none not applicable  
0 2 0
Language level required
linked to CEFR national or region-wide standards none not applicable  
0 2 0

 

NL

National Languages
Teacher qualifications
language teachers general teachers unqualified  
3
Pre-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
3
In-service teacher training
subject-specific general none  
3
Language level required for non-native speakers
linked to CEFR national or school-based norms not specified  
2

Languages offered in secondary education

R/M Languages

Frisian

Foreign Languages

Compulsory: English plus one other language at highest level of secondary.
Optional: Ancient Greek, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish.

Immigrant Languages

-

Frisian as a subject is compulsory in the first two grades. It can be taken as an exam subject, but not all secondary schools offer it (Inspectie van het Onderwijs, 2010), nor do many pupils take the exam: in 2011, only 47 pupils took exams in Frisian (Alberts & Erens, 2011).

There is no specific attention paid to immigrant languages within secondary education.

Key Findings overall

Fryslân is a province with two official languages, which is visible in the results of the study. Especially within education there is structural attention paid to the Frisian language, although the signed undertakings of the ECRML are not all fulfilled completely. On the continuum of education, from pre-primary education, via primary and secondary education to VET, the status of Frisian within education becomes less and less prominent.

The situation with regard to foreign and immigrant languages is the same as in the Netherlands overall, except that immigrant languages get less attention in education in Fryslân, which can be accounted for by the low proportion of immigrants in the province.

Promising initiatives and pilots

Language pack

Upon registering the birth of their child, parents in Fryslân are presented with a language pack (‘Taaltaske’). This language pack is offered by the province of Fryslân. The aim is to point out the advantages of plurilingualism. The materials in the pack include a brochure about plurilingualism, a Frisian children’s book, and a CD with children’s songs (Provinsje Fryslân, 2011b).

Trilingual education

Within the province there are several trilingual primary schools. These schools use Dutch, Frisian, and English as languages of instruction, starting with a 50-50 division between Dutch and Frisian as languages of instruction in the first six grades (children aged four to ten) and ending with 40% Dutch, 40% Frisian, and 20% English in the last two grades (children aged 11-12). This trilingual model yields positive results: the pupils’ level of Dutch at the end of primary school is not negatively affected by the time spent on English and Frisian and is comparable to national levels; the pupils’ Frisian reading and writing skills improve; and the pupils are more at ease using English (Taalsintrum Frysk/Cedin, 2011b). In 2011 the network of trilingual schools had grown to 41 members (Taalsintrum Frysk/Cedin, 2011a).

References

Alberts, R.V.J. and B.J.M. Erens (2011). Verslag van de examencampagne 2011 voortgezet onderwijs. Arnhem: Stichting Cito Instituut voor Toetsontwikkeling. Available at: www.cito.nl/~/media/cito_nl/Files/Voortgezet%20onderwijs/Cito_verslag_examencampagne_2011.ashx

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (2011). “Bevolking; leeftijd, herkomstgroepering, geslacht en regio, 1 januari.” Available at: http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37713&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0,3-4,6,9,11-13,15-17,19,22-23,25-26,30-32,34,37,40-41,44-48&D4=0,6&D5=l&HDR=T,G2&STB=G1,G3,G4&VW=T Accessed 9 December 2011.

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (2012). “Regionale kerncijfers Nederland.” Available at: http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=70072ned&D1=0,56,78-79,81&D2=0,6&D3=15-16&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&VW=T Accessed 3 January 2012

Council of Europe (2008). “European Charter for Regional of Minority Languages. Application of the charter in the Netherlands. 3rd monitoring cycle.” Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Available at: www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/Report/EvaluationReports/NetherlandsECRML3_en.pdf Accessed: 8 December 2011.

Inspectie van het Onderwijs (2010). “Tussen wens en werkelijkheid. De kwaliteit van het vak Fries in het basisonderwijs en het voortgezet onderwijs in Fryslân.” Utrecht. Available at: www.onderwijsinspectie.nl/actueel/publicaties/Tussen+wens+en+werkelijkheid.html Accessed 8 December 2011.

Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties (2011). Wet gebruik Friese taal - Memorie van Toelichting. Available at: www.internetconsultatie.nl/wetfriesetaal Accessed 8 December 2011.

Provinsje Fryslân (2010). De staat van Fryslân. Beleids- en geo-informatie, november 2010. Available at: www.fryslan.nl/download.asp?objectID=33162&link=De+staat+van+Fryslan%2Epdf Accessed: 9 December 2011.

Provinsje Fryslân (2011a). “De Fryske taalatlas: Friese taal in beeld 2011.” Leeuwarden. Available at: www.fryslan.nl/taalatlas Accessed: 9 December 2011

Provinsje Fryslân (2011b). “Taaltasje. Taaltaske.” Available at: http://fryslan.nl/taaltaske Accessed: 9 December 2011.

Riemersma, A. & S. de Jong (2007). Frisian: The Frisian language in education in the Netherlands, 4th edition. Ljouwert/Leeuwarden: Mercator Research Centre. Available at: www.mercator-research.eu/fileadmin/mercator/dossiers_pdf/frisian_in_netherlands4th_072010.pdf Accessed: 3 January 2012

Sintrum Frysktalige Berne-opfang (2013). Message to the author. 7 February 2013. Email

Taalsintrum Frysk/Cedin (2011). De Trijetalige skoalle. Available at: www.taalsintrum.nl/trijetalige-skoalle.html Accessed: 9 December 2011.

Taalsintrum Frysk/Cedin (2011). De Trijetalige Skoalle. Drachten: Taalsintrum Frysk/Cedin. Available at: www.3ts.nl/images/trijetalige-skoalle2011.pdf Accessed: 9 December 2011.

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