The Seimas Education and Science Committee recently addressed a proposal concerning the status of sign language within the national curriculum. Following legislative activity, which saw 78 members vote in favor, 5 against, and 19 abstentions, the committee specifically rejected an initiative put forth by Seimas member Ligita Girskienė that aimed to exclude sign language as a subject of study. Committee member Ingrida Braziulienė argued that mandating the exclusion of sign language from the curriculum and regulating this exclusion via law would be excessive.
Instead, the committee proposed an alternative method for integrating the subject. They suggested that the opportunity for students to study sign language could be implemented by supplementing the documents already approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, specifically referencing the Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education Programs and the General Educational Plans. The core of the debate centers on recognition.
L. Girskienė proposed that sign language be formally recognized as one of the elective languages available within the general education programs. Under this framework, students electing to study the sign language would receive instruction only in that specialized capacity.
The committee’s recommendation thus steers the discussion toward curricular supplementation rather than legislative exclusion or broad mandated inclusion. This suggests a pathway for incorporating the sign language as an elective component within the existing educational structure overseen by the seimas.
Topics: #seimas #sign #language
