JP/5/TUNA

JP/5/TUNA

The plight of teachers at Surabaya schools for disabled

Indra Harsaputra
The Jakarta Post/Surabaya

Dina Ambarwati was elated when she was hired as a teacher's
assistant at School No. 99 for the Disabled in Surabaya.

After working there for some time, she also was happy to learn
that visually impaired students had the same hopes and
aspirations as any other person.

"I'm pleased because my effort in teaching the blind students
has been rewarded. They are very enthusiastic to gain the same
opportunities as any other person," she said.

However, she said that some of the students still had to deal
with emotional stress. They usually feel left out, even by their
own families, as was the case with Ali, a student at the school.

Ali comes from a reputable family. His father is a high-
ranking official in one of the municipalities in East Java. He
was sent to the boarding school when he was very young. His
family, however, seldom visits him, only calling him up once in a
while. He said his family disregards him.

A lack of parental attention influenced his attitude toward
life. He first had difficulties interacting with his
surroundings.

He did not used not play with fellow students, much less speak
with them. He often found it hard to follow lessons and sometimes
cried for no apparent reason.

"That is the challenge. A teacher has to be able to interact
closely with the students, so that they will be motivated to live
complete lives in the future," said Dina.

Due to the help of teachers, Ali has changed now. He is no
longer an introvert and has the enthusiasm to accomplish his
ideals of becoming a teacher.

"Besides teaching, the pride of being a teacher for the blind
is being able to motivate pupils to live like any other person in
a society that shuns those considered 'not normal'", said Dina.

A teacher's aide like Desutandry, however, usually earns a
salary of Rp 460,000 per month, which is actually lower than the
provincial minimum wage of Rp 570,000 per month.

If the aides can pass the admission test to become a civil
servant, they can improve their earnings, because according to
the new employment rules, an assistant teacher must first be
appointed as a civil servant before being assigned as a teacher.

Desutandry and Dina are considered more fortunate compared to
those who could not pass the civil servant exam, which does not
allow anybody with a disability to take it, as was the case for
other bureaucrat hopefuls, Wuri Handayani, Atung, Ismawati and
Abdul.

Desutandry and Dina, who are able-bodied, will still have a
chance take the civil servant admission test, but the four
physically handicapped people were not even given a chance as
they failed to meet the government-mandated health requirements.

Wuri was rejected when she applied a job as a bookkeeper at
the Surabaya municipal administration on Nov. 6 because she
requires a wheelchair to move about.

Atung was turned down as a teacher because he is blind.

Wuri has taken her case to the State Administrative Court in
Surabaya and accused Surabaya Mayor Bambang DH with
discrimination against physically challenged people. "I will
continue to fight for the rights of physically challenged people
until they have equal rights with all other people," said Wuri.