A warm and cheerful atmosphere marked the Baitut Tholibin Mosque at\nthe Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) in\nJakarta on Saturday, 14 March. More than 1,600 participants from various\ncommunities gathered for the \u201cCheerful Ramadan: Breaking-of-Fast with\n1,000 People with Disabilities\u201d event, which not only brought Ramadan\njoy but also served as a moment for Kemendikdasmen to affirm its\ncommitment to strengthening inclusive education for all Indonesian\nchildren.<\/p>\n
On the occasion, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul\nMu\u2019ti stated that education is the right of every child in the nation\nwithout exception. The state has a responsibility to ensure that\nchildren with special needs receive equal and quality educational\nservices.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll Indonesian children, whatever their circumstances, wherever they\nare, have the right to receive educational services. We are committed to\nstrengthening inclusive education so that children with special needs\ncan learn together with other children,\u201d said Abdul Mu\u2019ti.<\/p>\n
As part of this commitment, Kemendikdasmen is preparing several steps\nin 2026 to expand access to education for children with special needs.\nIn addition to strengthening the practice of inclusive education in\nregular schools, the government will also increase the number of Special\nSchools (SLB) in several regions that still need special educational\nservices.<\/p>\n
Kemendikdasmen will also strengthen school capacity through training\nprogrammes for support teachers for children with special needs,\nenabling more schools to provide optimal inclusive educational\nservices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge of inclusive education is not only about facilities,\nbut also about teacher readiness and the school environment. Therefore,\nin 2026, we will begin training more support teachers so that schools\nare able to provide better educational services for children with\nspecial needs,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
According to Mu\u2019ti, strengthening inclusive education is not only a\nmatter of educational policy but also part of efforts to build a more\nopen society that values diversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to build a society that does not create barriers between\nthose with special needs and others. All Indonesian children have the\npotential to become extraordinary children if they receive quality\neducational opportunities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The breaking-of-fast gathering took place in a festive atmosphere.\nParticipants with disabilities displayed various creative talents,\nranging from hadroh (Islamic musical singing), Qur\u2019anic recitations,\nsign language Islamic learning, storytelling, to poetry readings. These\nperformances served as a space for self-expression whilst demonstrating\nthat people with disabilities have the opportunity to work and actively\nparticipate in public spaces.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the Minister also launched PijatMu, a community\ninitiative of the Social Welfare Guidance Council (MPKS) of the Central\nLeadership of Muhammadiyah that brings together blind massage therapists\nwithin the Muhammadiyah organisation.<\/p>\n
This programme aims to strengthen networks, increase capacity, and\nencourage economic independence of people with disabilities through\nskills development and expanded access to alternative health services\nfor the community. Additionally, a free mudik (journey home for\nholidays) programme was introduced for people with disabilities as part\nof the Cheerful Ramadan activities, with transportation services\nprovided for participants returning to their hometowns. Kemendikdasmen\nalso provided assistance including food packages, religious articles,\ntraditional dress for children, and Braille Qur\u2019ans to support\nparticipants\u2019 religious activities during Ramadan.<\/p>\n
This event demonstrates that inclusive education is built not only\nthrough policy but also through genuine social concern that creates\nspaces of togetherness for all. Ramadan becomes an opportunity to\nstrengthen empathy whilst reaffirming the commitment that no Indonesian\nchild is left behind in obtaining education.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-muti-affirms-strengthening-inclusive-education-in-2026-at-breaking-of-fast-with-1-000-people-with-1773586274", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }