Recently Chime has begun a new campaign for Irish Sign Language (ISL) to be established as a Leaving Certificate exam. Currently it is possible for any student to take a Leaving Certificate exam in Chinese, Russian and Arabic amongst other foreign languages, but a Deaf student cannot sit an exam in ISL, despite ISL being Ireland’s third officially recognised indigenous language alongside Gaeilge and English.

Chime believes that the current situation discriminates against Deaf students and could mean that they lose out on University courses because they can’t do an exam in their first language – ISL.

We have already been in touch with some public representatives and the National Council for Curriculum Assessment. We have also sought a meeting with the Minister for Education on the matter. Our aim is to make considerable progress in 2024 with the objective of having ISL as an optional exam in the 2025 Leaving Certificate.