The Friulian language in education in Italy. 2nd Edition

The Italian State approved Law 482/1999 to protect the many historical linguistic minorities that are present in its territory, including Friulian. Despite emphasising Italian as the official language of the Italian Republic, the law requires the teaching of minority languages in schools, among other provisions. Based on this State Law, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia passed Regional Law 29/2007, which governs the presence of Friulian in education. Following a challenging law-making process, which saw the State Government firmly oppose the introduction of Friulian as a default educational offer, this Regional Law stipulates that the language should be offered as an optional subject for at least 30 hours per year in kindergartens, primary schools, and lower secondary schools in the Friulian-speaking territory (closely corresponding to the former provinces of Udine, Pordenone, and Gorizia). However, the extent of Friulian class atten- dance varies across educational levels and provinces. While over 80% of kindergarten pupils in the area of Udine attend Friulian classes, the percentage drops to below 20% in primary schools in the former province of Pordenone and falls to zero in lower secondary schools in the territory of Gorizia. Research on the use of Friulian in education began in the late 1970s. Since then, it has been continued by the University of Udine, which is the main and only university in the Friulian-speaking territory, as well as by other entities, such as the Friulian Philological Society. Although a noteworthy development occurred in 2016, when a specific curriculum for the initial training of teachers of Friulian was inaugurated in the MA programme in Primary Teacher Education at the University of Udine, Friulian has limited presence at university. Apart from that curriculum and a few other linguistics, philology, and literature courses, which generally have low enrolment numbers, there are no other programmes that teach Friulian or use it as a language of instruction. Prospects for Friulian in Italy Today’s situation of Friulian in schools is far from ideal. There is a need for political will and more concrete commitments to ensure that schools in the Friulian-speaking territory utilise their autonomy and grant Friulian a worthier place in their educational offers. This change would reverse the current trend where many centres in the former provinces of Udine, Pordenone, and Gorizia do not offer Friulian to their pupils. It would be a welcome step for the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, as well as the Governments of other Italian Regions where minority languages are present, to demand that the central State complete the ratification process and adopt the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This would better protect Friulian and ensure its survival into the future.