Ministry of Solidarity to Standardise Sign Language Across Egypt
Apr 29, 2025
The Ministry of Social Solidarity has announced the formation of a national committee to standardise sign language across Egypt, aiming to better integrate individuals with hearing impairments into all aspects of society. The initiative comes as part of broader efforts to enhance accessibility, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that more than 10 million people across the Arab world experience significant hearing challenges.
The ministry's plan includes certifying and licensing sign language interpreters, and developing a unified national sign language dictionary to serve as an official reference. In parallel, an electronic platform for sign language resources has been created to support educational and public service needs.
In a related move, the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology and Labour, has launched the Taaheel platform. The platform is designed to help people with disabilities find job opportunities that match their qualifications and needs, supporting their integration into the workforce.
To further institutionalise support, intensive training programmes have been rolled out to teach the basics of sign language to ministry employees and service providers. So far, six programmes have been completed, training 145 employees, with additional sessions planned for staff across Egypt's 27 governorates.
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According to data released in July, there are 1.2 million people with mobility disabilities in Egypt, she said, calling on people with impairments to register in the Integrated Services System to determine their needs. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
