News
ÒPLO announces 1 million euros aid scheme for Occitan language, creation of prize
Grants to be dedicated to fostering Occitan language teaching, CPLO, IEO, media
The grants will be mainly aimed at developing the teaching of Occitan in public schools with Òc-Bi (bilingual teaching) and at producing Calandreta educational materials. In addition, ÒPLO also announced that the grants will subsidize the Permanent Congress of the Occitan Language (CPLO), the Institute of Occitan Studies (IEO), the vocational training centres in Toulouse and Ortès, and the media, particularly the Òc-tèle internet TV channel and the Conta'm dubbing company.
Prize for linguistic innovation
In addition, ÒPLO decided to create the Jan Moreu prize on innovation in language policy. The prize is worth a reward that can go up to 5,000 euros. It is open to both individuals and legal as well as students and their centres.
ÒPLO is a public body whose goal is to define a government policy in favor of Occitan. It was inaugurated on 12th November 2015 in the Toulouse Board of Education.
In a press release, ÒPLO said that it will "steer the drafting of a French government-regions agreement on the teaching of Occitan. To that end, [ÒPLO] will soon begin this dialogue and reflection with the boards of education concerned". In addition, the body announced that "it will further work on the drafting of an Interregional Development Plan for Occitan."
Dàvid Grosclaude succeeded by Charline Claveau-Abbadie
Regional councilor of Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes Charline Claveau-Abbadie was elected ÒPLO president at the body's general assembly on Wednesday. Claveau-Abbadie succeeds Dàvid Grosclaude, who is stepping down since he is no longer a regional assembly member.
ÒPLO has been operation since the beginning of 2016 under the direction of Estève Cròs.
ÒPLO has allowed to bring Occitan language public policies "beyond [regional] administrative borders" and has helped stop "overlapping of regional policies on this issue. On the contrary, we put up an interregional, integrated policy in the field of Occitan," the new president said.
(This news was first published by Occitan news site Jornalet, with which Nationalia has a partnership agreement.)