Frisian lessons in danger: Where have the teachers gone?

Frisian lessons in danger: Where have the teachers gone?

On June 16th and 17th, 2025, a seminar entitled “Didactic perspectives on Fering-Öömrang in upper secondary school” will take place at the Ferring Foundation in Alkersum on Föhr. The event is organized by the Department of Frisian Studies (ISFAS) at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU) and the Ferring Foundation in order to further develop school didactics in the area of ​​minority language teaching, especially Frisian, in Schleswig-Holstein. Prof. Dr. Christoph Winter, one of the organizers, emphasizes the importance of encouraging students to address problems in North Frisian school didactics and of networking experts.

A central issue addressed here is the alarming decline in Frisian teaching in North Frisia. The main reasons for this decline are the declining number of students and the lack of qualified Frisian teachers. There are currently only three Frisian teachers teaching at the high school on Föhr. Two of them are already retired while the third is over 60 years old. Robert Kleih, chairman of the Ferring Foundation, warns that Frisian lessons at Wyker Gymnasium may no longer be possible within five years.

Protection and promotion of minority languages

A current decree from the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture dated August 1, 2023 aims to protect and promote traditional regional and minority languages. In Schleswig-Holstein, North Frisian is recognized and promoted as a minority language. Schools in the Nordfriesland district and on Heligoland are obliged to inform parents about Frisian lessons on offer. Participation in lessons is voluntary, and lessons can be offered from grades 5 and 6, as an elective subject or as part of cultural projects.

The offer stipulates that Frisian can be chosen in compulsory elective lessons from grade 7 onwards, as a replacement for a foreign language in secondary school level II. In addition, schools with Frisian lessons are recognized as model schools and receive the necessary resources for teacher training. Lessons are now being offered in all grades in order to ensure consistent language education.

Study options and general conditions

Students can take Frisian at the CAU as a supplementary subject for teaching at high schools or study Frisian at the European University of Flensburg for teaching at primary schools and lower secondary level. A Frisian certificate course is also offered as part of teacher training and further education. The state of Schleswig-Holstein supports the recruitment of teachers with knowledge of Frisian in order to counteract the acute shortage of teachers. The decree comes into force on August 1, 2023 and runs until July 31, 2026.

Schleswig-Holstein is also committed to the preservation and dissemination of other regional and minority languages, including Danish, Romani and Low German. This commitment is part of the commitment under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which protects these languages ​​as part of Europe's cultural heritage. An action plan for language policy, which was initiated in the 18th legislative period and adopted in the 20th legislative period, aims to promote the identity and added value of languages ​​and to take into account the wishes of speaker groups.

These measures not only promote linguistic diversity in Schleswig-Holstein, but also give future generations the chance to learn and pass on the North Frisian language. The upcoming seminars and the new regulations mark an important step in the right direction.

For further information, interested parties can contact Robert Kleih at kleihr.kleih@ferring-stiftung.de or Prof. Dr. Christoph Winter under c.winter@isfas.uni-kiel.de contact.