On 14 November the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part in a plenary session of the All-Russia Forum of Mother Tongue held in Kazan with participation of about 800 teachers of Tatarstan language and culture form 30 regions of Russia, including Tatarstan, national education supervisors, Tatar linguistics scientists, textbooks authors and heads of public organizations.
Before the session, Rustam Minnikhanov got acquainted with the forum exhibition which demonstrated various books for children and adults, Tatar newspapers and magazines, educational guidelines and national costumes and jewelry. Specialists from the Tatarmultfilm cartoons amalgamation presented their multi-media projects, and Rustam Minnikhanov also looked round a model of decorations of Tatar-language class rooms and projects of Tatartan TV companies.
Deputy Prime Minister Vasil Shaykhraziev, who is also the Chairman of the National Council of the Tatar World Congress, emphasized that teachers of Tatar language and culture play an enormous role in preservation of the native language. “Of course, it is a multifaceted work uniting parents’ communities, kindergartens and schools, centers of culture, libraries and local Tatar organizations of the Tatar World Congress. Only by joint efforts can we raise an interest to studying Tatars language,” he said.
The regional Minister of Education and Science Ilsur Khadiullin stressed out that today Tatar language teachers are carrying out a big mission as the school time is the most important when studying the native language.
Having given high assessment to the forum organization and the specialized exposition, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “We need such meetings very much as they are extremely useful. Having got acquainted with the exhibition I am sure that the Tatar language and Tatar culture have a bright future. Huge work is being done in this sphere, various projects are being implemented and there are concrete positive results. Active work should proceed, it is extremely important to preserve our native language. A family, kindergarten and school play a big role in this process and of course a teacher occupies an important place.”
“I wish all of you success and hope we will meet more often,” he concluded and handed in a number of state awards.
