According to an article I found today, l’Assemblea regionale siciliana (the Sicilian Regional Assembly) has voted unanimously in favour of the introduction of lessons in Sicilian language and culture in Sicily’s schools at all levels from next year. The aim is to preserve “l’immenso patrimonio storico e letterario della Sicilia” (the immense historical and literary heritage of Sicily). How this will be implemented, much it will cost and whether there are sufficient qualified teachers are issues that still need to be dealt with.
Perhaps a better way to encourage the continued use of Sicilian would be to use it as a medium of instruction, at least at primary level.
Great news from a land that (just like Sardinia) has always been the ball in a game of power politics. Knowing their own History and culture will be enriching, and it will mean knowing other people´s History as well. The author of the article doesn´t seem to see it this way, though.
I have a doubt: will they teach Sicilian language as a whole? will they take into account all the Gallo-Italic dialects (specially Lombard dialects) that have been spoken in Sicily for centuries?
@Simon: “Perhaps a better way to encourage the continued use of Sicilian would be to use it as a medium of instruction, at least at primary level.”
I agree that it might be more effective but the issue might be the lack of available teaching resources (e.g. textbooks) in Sicilian for the various subjects taught at primary level.