Norway Helps Thua Thien-Hue Develop Ethnic Written Languages

Norway’s FARO AS organization has sponsored a pilot project to develop Co Tu, Pa Ko and Ta Oi written languages for students at primary schools in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The $179,609 project will be carried out in A Luoi and Nam Dong mountainous districts. In 2017-2022, it will compile documents to teach students from Co Tu, Pa Ko and Ta Oi ethnic groups to write scripts and organize consultation meetings on teaching methods and evaluating pupils’ writing skills. The project aims to contribute to the maintenance and development of written languages for Co Tu, Pa Ko and Ta Oi ethnic groups, thus preserving and developing their cultural values. Earlier, the provincial Department of Education and Training, in collaboration with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences organized a course teaching Co Tu scripts for Co Tu teachers in Nam Dong and A Luoi districts. Co Tu is one of the ethnic minority groups in Thua Thien-Hue, which plays an important role in the local socio-economic development. Co Tu language is used as their mother tongue. However, like many other ethnic minority groups, Co Tu people do not have a written language, which hinders the preservation and development of their cultural values. (english.vov.vn Oc 13)