Inclusion: Ministry of Education discusses mandatory teaching of Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) in Brazilian schools.
Hearing in the Chamber of Deputies discusses bill that provides for the inclusion of Brazilian Sign Language in all stages of basic education.
247 - The Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies held a public hearing this Tuesday (16) to discuss Bill No. 6.284/2019, which proposes the mandatory teaching of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) at all stages of basic education. The initiative seeks to expand access to education for deaf people, ensuring greater inclusion and equity in the education system.
The debate included the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Education (MEC), among them the Director of Bilingual Education Policies for the Deaf, Patrícia Luiza Ferreira Rezende-Curione. Educators, public administrators, specialists, and members of the deaf community also participated, in a collective effort to support the bill's progress with different perspectives and contributions.
Proposal for inclusion in the Law of Guidelines and Bases
During its passage through the Senate, the original text of the bill underwent changes through an amendment that included in the Law of Guidelines and Bases of Education (LDB) the provision for access to Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) not only for deaf students, but also for hearing people and their families. The goal is to create an inclusive educational environment, strengthening communication and cultural ties.
The measure was defended by entities such as the National Federation for the Education and Integration of the Deaf (Feneis), which reinforces the importance of respecting the uniqueness of bilingual education. This model is already foreseen in Law No. 14.191/2021, which recognizes Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) as the first language (L1) of deaf students, and should be taught by licensed, fluent, and preferably deaf teachers, using specific methodologies. Portuguese, in turn, should be taught as a second language (L2), in written form.
Teacher training and strengthening bilingual schools
According to the director of the Ministry of Education, Patrícia Luiza Ferreira Rezende-Curione, the implementation of the proposal depends on valuing teacher training. "We need to further promote teacher training so that these deaf professionals can work in bilingual schools for the deaf, strengthening this modality, since it is the language of instruction for these students," she stated.
The debate also highlighted the importance of offering Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) as a second language to family members of deaf students through extracurricular activities. The proposal also extends to hearing students, with the goal of expanding inclusive coexistence and mutual understanding in the school environment.
Social relevance and impact on accessibility
According to data from the 2022 IBGE Census, Brazil has 14,4 million people with disabilities, representing 7,3% of the population aged two years or older. Of this total, 2,6 million have some degree of hearing impairment. The provision of Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) in basic education is seen as essential to guarantee the right to full communication and social participation, allowing deaf people to access education, culture, public services, and social life on equal terms.
At the end of the hearing, all the contributions collected were forwarded to the bill's rapporteur, who will continue the legislative process. The meeting represented another step towards strengthening inclusion and accessibility in the Brazilian education system.
