Midt-Telemark weighs dropping Nynorsk in primary schools

Midt-Telemark municipality is considering introducing Bokmål at all its primary schools after parents moved children from Folkestad school to Bø school to secure instruction in Bokmål, NRK reports. The proposal would require a consultative referendum.

Folkestad school was recently saved from closure, but several parents have nevertheless applied to move their children to Bø because they prefer Bokmål-language education.

Mayor Siri Blichfeldt Dyrland said the proposal was likely to trigger a significant debate.

“We know that Nynorsk is an important written language that is also under threat. Many people are concerned that we must do everything we can to preserve Nynorsk,” she said.

Gregar Høydal, head of the parent committee at Folkestad school, said he personally valued Nynorsk but did not want the written language used at a school to determine where parents sent their children.

“What is important is that people do not move to another school based on whether the school uses Nynorsk or Bokmål,” he said.

Language researcher Piotr Garbacz, an associate professor of Nordic languages at the University of Oslo, said the trend was not new.

“The trend is that Bokmål is gaining users at the expense of Nynorsk,” he said, adding that Bokmål may be perceived more widely as a standard language.