Indonesia’s Education Mechanism (Nowadays) : Are Disabled and Autistic Pupils Satisfied Enough? Between Discrimination, Accreditation, and the School’s Prestige

Indonesia’s Education Mechanism (Nowadays) :

Are Disabled and Autistic Pupils Satisfied Enough?

Between Discrimination, Accreditation, and the School’s Prestige

Do we need to appreciate the government if they are closing their eyes intentionally with the situation among disabled and autistic pupils? Meanwhile society and officials are still arguing for decades on curriculum and education system that only could be adjusted or implemented by normal pupils? When the current government administration established their cabinets and figured out that Mr. Anies Baswedan is the new Minister of Base Education, the hope for families of autistic and disabled person arise (yet, we are still ordered to look forward for some time). For more than 50% of the population are inhabited by disabled and autistic human beings. I believe they are normal human beings who were also born from women’s womb, in other way, what they only need is special attention and effort from education officials and experts to boost up the system of our national education.

Here are several key points that I’ve had tried on figuring the obstacles and barriers of disabled and autistic pupils in Indonesia on getting proper school and on attaining their knowledge. Before we get there, I as a freedom writer expresses these opinions based on my own experience and observation since I have an autistic little brother. Although I’m neither an expert nor psychiatrist/psychology, I often monitor nearly whole of the environment that has surrounded our family and my brother’s personal being. These thoughts are mine and my own only.

1.      The Lack of Seriousness from Indonesian Education Officials (Government and Boards of School): Setting Aside Habits

Saya lanjutkan pakai bahasa indonesia aja ya, supaya gampang dicerna oleh para orang tua Indonesia secara keseluruhan. Jadi, dalam bagian ini saya melihat bahwa pemerintah Indonesia dan sekolah sekolah pada umumnya belum fokus dan serius dalam memasukkan program INKLUSI terhadap anak-anak yang tergolong autis maupun ADHD. Percuma saja jika sekolah tersebut memiliki segudang prestasi apabila masih belum memiliki program khusus yang biasanya disebut dengan INKLUSI. Bila kita perhatikan dan bandingkan dengan sekolah-sekolah di negara maju, pada dasarnya mereka telah memprioritaskan anak-anak spesial tersebut agar mendapatkan pendidikan yang sama layaknya anak-anak pada umumnya. Bahkan, negara-negara maju seperti Jerman, Inggris, Amerika Serikat, dan Singapura membebaskan biaya bagi seluruh orang tua atau keluarga yang memiliki anak-anak terdiagnosa autis/ADHD. Itulah salah satu contoh dimana pemerintahan negara-negara maju sangat "advance" dan berfikir "forward" bagi kemajuan pendidikan anak-anak bangsanya. 

Indonesia, khususnya sekolah-sekolah, sangat perlu mengaplikasikan program Inklusi agar anak-anak autis/ADHD dapat mengakseskan diri ke pengetahuan yang tidak diskriminatif. Pengaruh dan dampak bilamana sekolah-sekolah Indonesia menerapkan program ini akan sangat signifikan karena dengan begitu, kualitas pendidikan Indonesia pun akan dianggap maju dan tidak berpandangan ke belakang. DI zaman yang semakin moderen dan berteknologi tinggi seperti sekarang ini sudah tidak lagi hanya mengutamakan prestise, akreditasi dan ranking sekolah. Tapi yang diutamakan adalah kesamarataan bagi seluruh anak-anak, tak terkecuali anak-anak autis/ADHD. Sudah saatnya pendidikan di Indonesia menghapus diskriminasi dan sistem "pilih-pilih" anak normal dan abnormal. Mereka semua pada umumnya sama dan hanya membutuhkan tenaga yang lebih maksimal. Sudah saatnya Indonesia meninggalkan perdebatan yang hanya mendiskusikan tentang kurikulum biasa dan berganti arah pada sistem pendidikan yang merata tanpa adanya diskriminasi. 

2.      The Peculiar (Odd) Gaze from the Society and Its Environment toward the Pupils

3.      Money Business (As Usual): Expensive Cost is indirectly classified as DISCRIMINATION !!!!

4.      The Lack of Proficient Guru/Teacher

5.      [Parental Guidance] is Urgently Required

P.S. To all parents who need some information regarding schools and institution for autistic children, I have several of list for you to discover. I hope it will be beneficial for both parents and your children. 

1. SD Kristen Dian Emas, Bandung, West Java

2. TK Cerdas Mandiri, Bandung West Java

3. TK,SD,SMP Mutiara Bunda, Bandung, West Java

4. AGCA Center in Surabaya (Head Office), Jakarta, and Bandung