Lestari Urges Enhancement of Teacher Skills for Inclusive Education

Jakarta — Vice Chair of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) RI Lestari Moerdijat has called for enhanced teacher skills to deliver quality inclusive education services to all members of society, without exception.

“To realise quality education services for every citizen, efforts to increase the number of teachers capable of educating children with special needs must be implemented urgently,” she said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.

She highlighted data from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) as of September 2025 showing that there are 363,921 students with disabilities across Indonesia.

Of this number, 199,375 students study at 60,910 inclusive education service provider units (SPPI). However, only approximately 15 per cent of these educational units have specialist guidance teachers (GPK).

Lestari viewed this situation as obstructing the creation of equitable education services for all citizens. In this regard, she stressed that government consistency in increasing the number of specialist guidance teachers is essential.

She supported the government’s plan to provide training for teachers this year so they have the capability to support children with special needs. She also urged the government and society to work together to accelerate the realisation of this programme.

“Synergy among all parties is greatly needed so that fair and equitable inclusive education services for every citizen can be realised soon,” said Lestari, who is also a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives responsible for education matters.