Are we reaching a turning point in Serbia with respect to Serbian Sign Language in deaf education?

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the challenges affecting deaf education in Serbia, as well as in Serbian Sign Language (SZJ) by probing important policy measures that have been introduced over the years. Furthermore, we provide a summary of sign language research and the beginning of deaf awareness in Serbia. Our discussion focuses on key changes in the education policy that took place in 2009 when inclusive education was introduced and when Serbia ratified the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The ratification of UNCRPD and the subsequent empowerment of the Serbian deaf community paved the way for the legal recognition of Serbian Sign Language in 2015, along with the enactment/passing of the Law on the Use of Sign Language. We review the existing legal and policy documents concerning deaf education and Serbian Sign Language by providing an outline of the government’s latest Strategy on Education until 2030 and its accompanying Action Plan until 2023. In conclusion, by focusing on the major goals set by the Strategy and the Action plan, we consider the feasibility of the goals with respect to the time frame and situation in practice.