The Teaching Profession and Literacy of Deaf People: Difficulties and Requirements

Abstract

Current article shows the partial results of the research called "Challenges of the teaching profession in contemporary society and its implications on training projects”, developed since 2008 by the Study and Research Group on the Teachers’ Training and the Teaching Profession (GEPROD) within the Bilingual Education Course of the National Institute of the Education of the Deaf in Rio de Janeiro. Research discusses the teaching profession by examining the profession’s demands with regard to the education of deaf people and their implications on initial teachers’ initial training curriculum. Current investigation is therefore an analysis of the difficulties encountered by teachers, their greatest challenges and the alternatives developed to meet school routine. Interviews were undertaken with teachers of a government educational institution in Niterói RJ Brazil which deals with the education of deaf people within an inclusive perspective. Results show the importance of production and socialization of scientific knowledge in the education of deaf people, the need for implementing activities in continuous education and the relevance of a political and pedagogical commitment of the authorities responsible for the education systems and its institutions and teachers so that quality education could be warranted.