The Ministry of Equality has this week launched its first British Sign Language (BSL) course. 

BSL was recognised as an official language in Gibraltar in 2022 and as such, it is important that measures are in place to support persons who are d/Deaf.

The purpose of this course is to train fully qualified interpreters locally. In order to work as a BSL interpreter, people need to be accredited with Level 6. Although there are already many people in our community that have successfully completed Levels 1 and 2 that cover basic conversational skills, at present there are no BSL interpreters with Level 6 qualification resident in Gibraltar.

The course is being delivered by Sign Code UK and is scheduled to run for around 5 years. The successful applicants will be completing their Levels 1 and 2 during the first year, Level 3 the second year, Level 3 Professional the third year and Levels 4 - 6 during the fourth and fifth year. Moving through these qualifications, students will improve their signing, and the training provides a clear, step-by-step path to help communicate better within the d/Deaf community and open new career opportunities.

Shortlisted applicants went through an in-depth interview stage where their communication skills, motivation and potential to benefit from and contribute to the course were thoroughly assessed.

Eight candidates have been chosen to commence the BSL course after the rigorous and highly detailed selection process that included care screening of applicants to ensure a genuine interest, commitment and suitability for the programme.

Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, the Hon Christian Santos GMD MP, said: “I am thrilled to have launched this as it is imperative to have BSL interpreters locally. BSL is not just something that persons who are d/Deaf want, it is something that they need. It is a basic human right to be able to have a conversation with someone. This course, together with the launch of Convo which we announced a few weeks ago, will serve to improve the lives of persons who are d/Deaf.”