The Tajik Sign Language has been introduced in Tajikistan

The Tajik Sign Language has been introduced in Tajikistan

The state institution "Special Professional Lyceum for the Disabled" in Dushanbe has begun the piloting of an intensive course of the Tajik Sign Language. This course has launched with the support of the Country Office of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Association of Adult Education (DVV International) in Tajikistan and the financial assistance from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). At the moment, 20 teachers of the lyceum are involved in learning of the Tajik Sign Language. After the completion of the pilot course, taking into account the recommendations, the curriculum will be used by the relevant educational institutions working with people with hearing and speech impairments.

According to Zebo Bidieva, Expert in Sign Language, who supervises the learning process, the lyceum's teachers are learning sign language for the first time and further they will have the opportunity to communicate fluently in Tajik sign language with students who have hearing and speech impairments.

“Classes started on October 18, 2022 and will last approximately 4 months. In 252 hours, 20 members of the teaching staff will have to learn 1950 signs,” said Zebo Bidieva.

She also noted that in the special professional lyceum for the disabled, people with hearing and speech impairments are also engaged in the educational process along with other learners with various types of disabilities.  

“During the cooking class, for example, the teacher explains the lesson orally to students who don’t have hearing impairments, and for deaf students, the lesson is explained to using the sign language. As a result, students with hearing impairments will be able to better master professions and crafts,” says Zebo Bidieva.

A sign language interpreter has been working together with the teachers of the special professional lyceum for the disabled. The sign language interpreter interprets at the same time in several classes where people with hearing impairments study. According to Zebo Bidieva, after the teachers master the Tajik Sign Language, the quality of inclusive education will improve.

With the support of the Country Office of DVV International in Tajikistan, a curriculum and methodological manual for learning the Tajik Sign Language were developed. The curriculum consists of 1950 signs and covers topics such as the alphabet of the Tajik language, family, countries and cities, professions and skills, as well as other general signs. This curriculum is approved and recommended for implementation by the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Migration and the Employment of Tajikistan.