Södertörns högskola Launches Unique Preschool Teacher Training Program Amid Low Interest
Södertörns högskola's new preschool teacher training program for national minorities faces low applicant interest.
Key Points
- • The program focuses on national minorities and Romani chib language education.
- • Fewer than ten applicants listed it as their first choice from 45 applications.
- • The initiative aims for inclusivity in preschool settings.
- • The government mandates Södertörns högskola to strengthen Romani chib teaching.
Södertörns högskola is set to launch a pioneering preschool teacher training program this fall, specifically designed to address the educational needs of national minorities, particularly focusing on the Romani chib language. This initiative is considered potentially the first of its kind globally. However, the initial response has been underwhelming, with fewer than ten students listing it as their first choice out of a total of 45 applicants so far.
Anna Lindqvist, a department head at the university, expressed mixed feelings about the low number of first-choice applications, stating, "It’s clear that one always wishes for many applicants, but I can’t say that I’m disappointed." The program seeks to equip future educators with the necessary skills to create inclusive preschool environments for children from national minority backgrounds.
Since 2013, Södertörns högskola has been tasked by the Swedish government to improve the instruction in Romani chib across educational levels. The launch of this preschool teacher program is a continuation of this broader governmental mandate aimed at revitalizing the language. Domino Kai, a project coordinator, pointed to the urgency of shifting educational strategies to preserve endangered languages for the sake of future generations. Despite the current applicant interest, there remains hope that the application period will yield additional enrollments as it remains open.