Islamic boarding school for disabled

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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