Should Greenlandic children be able to speak English before they can speak Danish?
That is what a joint Inatsisartut thinks.
Today, Inatsisartut considered a proposal to make English the first foreign language in primary school, which was put forward by Jens NapãtôK’ (N).
And while it was ultimately an amendment from Naalakkersuisut that was adopted, there was broad agreement that English and not least Greenlandic should be prioritized in teaching.
The amendment requires the Greenlandic Government to prepare an action plan for strengthening both Greenlandic and English teaching in primary schools with a view to strengthening and preserving the status and use of the Greenlandic language.
The action plan must be available by the spring session of 2027 at the latest.
"Danish will have a less dominant role"
During the first reading of the proposal in October 2025, the Greenlandic Government Minister for Education, Culture, Sports and Church, Nivi Olsen (D), said that the Ministry of Education and the National Agency for Education are already looking into how both Greenlandic and English teaching in primary schools can be strengthened.
- This will mean that Danish will have a less dominant role in teaching, she said.
However, it must be implemented in a responsible manner. Nivi Olsen pointed out that Oqaasileriffik (the language secretariat) points to significant considerations that are necessary to maintain the Greenlandic language.
- Oqaasileriffik emphasizes, among other things, that a hasty reorganization, where English is immediately introduced as the first foreign language and Danish is phased out at the same time, could weaken the status and use of the Greenlandic language, she said.
Unanimously adopted
There was a good atmosphere between the parties in the chamber today, where the questions praised Jens NapãtôK’ for his proposal and congratulated him on its adoption.
- Big congratulations to you as the proposer, so that we can stand together as Inatsisartut.
- It is time for us to take the next step, said Nivi Olsen.
21 voted in favour of the amendment. No one voted against or abstained from voting, thus the amendment was adopted, which means that the resolution has been adopted in its amended form, said Mimi Karlsen, who is the Vice-Chair of Inatsisartut and led the discussion of the item.
Naleraq also chose to accommodate Naalakkersuisut's amendment, as they are confident that their original proposal will be incorporated into the upcoming action plan.
