Islamic boarding school for disabled

SEMARANG: A pesantren (Islamic boarding school) for the disabled has been founded in Gunungpati district here to provide students with both religious knowledge and vocational skills.

Manager of the boarding school Rochimin said on Saturday the school activities formally began in mid-2001 and had so far educated 200 people with a variety of disabilities.

Founded by the Bhakti Nurani (Bhani) Foundation, the boarding school teaches its students health care, farming and entrepreneurship, Rochimin said.

Law No. 4/1997 on disabled people stipulates that physical disabilities should not deprive people of their rights to, among other things, education and jobs.

In the long run, Rochimin said, the boarding school would be open to neglected children.

He added the foundation needed support from local people and the provincial government to survive, as it no longer received financial aid from the Ministry of Social Affairs due to the implementation of regional autonomy in 2001. -- Antara

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