We are an NGO deeply committed to improving equality, educational quality, and inclusivity in the Netherlands. Our latest endeavour involves advocating for the inclusion of sign language in our primary education curriculum, making it a mandatory subject. This extends to teacher training as well; we believe it should be mandatory for all teachers to undergo sign language training.

Our motivation is rooted in the fact that around 15,000 people in the Netherlands use sign language as their first language. Despite this, it is not recognized in our primary school curriculum, setting a problematic precedent. For these individuals, the lack of sign language education in primary schools might convey a message of exclusion and negligence. We are thus committed to changing this state of affairs.

A study by Dr. Jasmina Ritter, a language acquisition specialist, shows that exposure to sign language at an early age does not hinder the hearing children's ability to acquire spoken language and might foster better understanding and social engagement with the deaf community. If implemented, Dutch primary schools would join the ranks of countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, where sign languages are recognized and children have the right to education in these languages.

We call on the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science to meet this pressing need in our society. It’s time for us to embrace sign language within our education system fully, and in doing so, we take a significant step toward inclusivity. Please sign our petition to support this cause.