Computers for the blind planned
Computers for the blind planned
JAKARTA (JP): The government, to prove its commitment to
providing a good education for the handicapped, plans to
translate college admission tests into Braille for the blind.
Yesterday, Minister for Education and Culture Wardiman
Djononegoro announced that the plan will start in June, when
universities open admission for the handicapped students.
"The blind have the same right to a good education as any
other citizen," Wardiman said, at a demonstration of a Braille
printer and computer software by a Norwegian company.
The company was trying to impress the minister with the
computers' ability to translate questions of last year's college
admission tests.
Last year, 13 blind students participated in state college
admission tests. They were helped by special teachers who read
them the questions. This year, there will be 22.
The ministry has considered getting foreign assistance to
finance more Braille computers. These computers would be used to
translate not only exam questions, but also books for the blind.
The equipment will also be provided to schools for the
handicapped across the country.
The Director of primary education, Djauzak Achmad, said
special schools for the handicapped had existed long before the
nation declared its independence in 1945. However, he
acknowledged the government has not provided them adequate
equipment.
Statistics at the ministry shows there are about 1 million
blind people in Indonesia and another 10 million with serious
vision problems. Of the group who are legally blind, only 3,000
or so attend school.
"Schools for handicapped are very expensive. The existing 209
schools are not enough to accommodate all the handicapped,"
Djauzak said.
He added that the government wanted to build more schools that
accommodate both the handicapped and those without disabilities,
because mixed schools are cheaper to manage.
"There will be time when all the handicapped will go to
ordinary schools," Djauzak said.
He called on the public not to be ashamed of having
handicapped children.(01)