Brazil's Libras inclusion hampered by teacher shortage, new courses start

A study of Brazilian sign language (Libras) education finds that, despite legal guarantees such as Law 10.436/2002, Decree 5.626/2005 and the 2021 bilingual education law, schools struggle to provide effective inclusion. The main obstacles are a shortage of teachers proficient in Libras, limited continuing‑education programs, a lack of teaching materials in sign language and lingering linguistic prejudice.

In parallel, the Federal Justice of Alagoas (JFAL) has launched its fifth‑year Libras training program for judges, staff and contractors. The weekly course, running until October and taught by deaf professor Arnaldo Nascimento dos Santos with interpreter support, aims to improve accessibility and service for deaf citizens and to fulfill constitutional rights to communication.

Both reports highlight the need for stronger teacher training policies and resource investment to move Libras from a formal requirement to everyday classroom practice.