When education does not differentiate students' backgrounds

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Rows of award certificates adorn the walls of a room that is not too spacious, yet feels cool and comfortable, giving an impression of neatness, order, and the struggle behind the achievements. The placement of award certificates on the predominantly white walls is certainly not just decoration, but proof of recognition for achievements that are visible at all times when in the room. This is the view from the office of the Principal of State Junior High School (SMP) Negeri 15 Yogyakarta, an educational unit with a child-friendly title in the area dubbed the city of education. Displayed among them is an award certificate from the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta granting the Jogja Children’s Award for the Best Child-Friendly School/Madrasah category to SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta, for its service in child protection efforts in DIY. In addition, there is an award certificate from the Regional Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAID) of Yogyakarta City to SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta as the winner of the Child-Friendly School category in the Child Protection and Rights Fulfilment Award (KPAID Award). Not to be missed is an award certificate from the Yogyakarta City Education Office for being the best in the Healthy School Competition at the Yogyakarta level, adding to the list of achievements in creating a child-friendly and comfortable school for students. A child-friendly school, according to the Principal of SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta, Drs Siswanto, is fundamentally an inclusive education or learning system. “Inclusive education is education that does not differentiate based on sex, character, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and everything. And all of that can be facilitated here in learning,” he said. For Siswanto, the core of the child-friendly school concept actually lies in learning, namely how the school or educational unit can facilitate all children regardless of their background. Whatever their background, SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta has facilitated them, including children with special needs or disabilities who are accepted annually through a specific disability quota in the new student admission selection. The school environment is safe. Although located in the city centre, precisely on Jalan Tegal Lempuyangan, Danurejan, the school is not situated directly on the main road, but on a side street west of the main road, before the Lempuyangan Bridge from the south. The school building, on land owned by the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate covering 10,615 square metres, is surrounded by a green wall, which generally signifies tranquillity, natural freshness, and balance. Upon entering the school gate, a security post stands with an alert officer who greets visitors warmly during teaching and learning activities, making security at the school a priority.