Teddy: Learning at the Palace a Lasting Experience for Special Needs Students

A total of 164 students from special needs schools (SLB) across Jakarta experienced a day of learning at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday through the ‘Istana untuk Anak Sekolah’ (Palace for School Children) programme. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya expressed his hope that the visit would become a lasting memory for the students. “This morning, the Palace once again opened its doors to Indonesian children. A total of 164 students from the Indonesian Disability Institution (INDISI) attended the ‘Istana untuk Anak Sekolah’ programme. With great enthusiasm, these young friends with hearing, intellectual, and physical disabilities came to get to know the Jakarta Presidential Palace and the nation’s history better,” Teddy said in a statement. He hoped the visit would leave a deep impression and foster the belief that every Indonesian child has an equal opportunity to dream, learn, create, and serve the nation. Teddy shared his impressions of the visit, stating that physical limitations are not a barrier to dreaming and striving for future aspirations. “They came with high aspirations, great spirit, and a strong determination to keep learning and achieve their future. Today serves as a reminder that spirit, determination, and ambition know no bounds,” he said. He expressed hope that the programme would serve as a small step to motivate the children not to be afraid to dream and to continue creating. “Disability is not a limit to achieving one’s goals. Who knows, perhaps from these small steps today, great works will be born that make Indonesia proud on the world stage,” Teddy remarked. The group of students was taken on a tour to see several rooms in the State Palace, Merdeka Palace, and the Cabinet Secretariat Building. The students also had the chance to see the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) in the various uniforms they wear daily while on duty at the Palace. At iconic corners of the Palace, the students also took the opportunity to pose for group photographs to capture the moment of their day learning at the Presidential Palace.