Disabled students

Disabled students

From Republika

The requirement introduced by Gadjah Mada University in
Yogyakarta in the new academic year discriminates against the
physically handicapped.

If the requirement were to be applied, it would not be in line
with article 31 paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution which states
that every citizen is entitled to an education. I hope the
requirement will not destroy the hopes and ideals of the
physically handicapped students.

I am physically handicapped myself. I had polio in my early
childhood, resulting in a defect with my left leg. I have worked
with a government agency. For four years I was assigned to
locations with difficult natural conditions, measuring and
mapping sites for transmigration in Sumatra's swampy forests and
hilly, steep jungles and monitoring reforestation activities at
several thousand meters altitude.

I did not once ask for help or preferential treatment from my
able-bodied colleagues. The contrary sometimes happened because I
was a leader of a number of teams.

I would like to inform the Rector of Gadjah Mada University
that I am an S3 (PhD) student of geography. Shall I be expelled
because the School of Geography does not allow its students to be
physically handicapped?

I certainly hope that the Rector will allow me to further my
studies. I ask the Rector to consider this matter thoroughly.

YENDI SUFYANDI

Yogyakarta