9 Teaching approaches

Due to the great distances that often exists between the pupils and their schools in Southern Saepmie, many pupils receive their Saami education in other forms than in the traditional classrooms. During all the history of education of Saami pupils in Norway, boarding schools have been an important instrument. While these forms of institutions have often been connected with bad memories of forceful assimilation, they may also serve as an instrument of strengthening the Saami cultural identity and language skills, and today they play a very important role in the revitalization of the language.

Snåsa is such a school [picture]

Online education is also important, either exclusively or in combination with language camps where the pupils can stay for shorter or longer periods of time. This is not only important for pupils who live in remote places in the South Saami administrative areas, but just as much for pupils who live in other parts for the country, for instance in one of the major cities.

South Saami Knowledge Park (Åarjelsaemien Vierhtiesåafoe in South Saami) is one of the providers of distance learning in Saami language and culture. They are situated in Hattfjelldal municipality in the South Saami heartland, but provide classes in three Saami languages for pupils from all Norway. In addition to online teaching, they also teach through culture camps for up to 6 weeks at their boarding school. They also customize services for public and private organizations. Åarjelsaemien Vierhtiesåafoe is a governmental organization owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Education.

One major obstacle is the lack of teaching material, be it textbooks, technological equipment for online teaching, or South Saami fiction and non-fiction literature. Many teachers of South Saami experience that they have to produce their own material, adding to their work-load.