Where do children get their educational right? Referring that each child has right to education and each child has access to have education. So starting in golden year age, each child must have a good education.
Mostly parents think that a good education is in schools. Therefore, parents send their child going to a school that is a place where each child has their educational right. As their right, children with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, ethnics, cultures, gender and conditions, should be without problem to be enrolled in the school; should be without difficulty to reach their class; should be without barrier to take part in learning activities.
That it to say that based on educational right, education must provide a space which can makes a child feel freely and friendly in learning. With this regard, education must remove educational barriers so that each child with diversity can meet their need in learning.
In reality, there is still many children face difficulty to have their educational right. Children with special cases, such as sickness, disabilities, poorness, and ethnic minorities, in conflict and nature disaster areas still have limited access going to school. Education is fully human right perspective but in a real situation, it is not friendly for children with special cases. In term of this issue, I would say that education in actual fact has not affirmed to all children who have right to education, though recently The Government has applied an inclusive education approach since year 2003 throughout Indonesia.
What’s the key point of inclusive education and why The Government has published regulations and policies concerning on inclusive education which should be implemented in schools. Despite the facts that, some educational stakeholders have the same views and give full supports in applying inclusive education regulations and policies. However, a number of educational bodies and communities do mind, and assume that inclusive education is still far a way from educational system in Indonesia having many barriers to implement it. Nevertheless, the key point of inclusive education is an approach that looks into how to transform education systems in order to remove the barriers that prevent pupils from participating fully in education (www.unesco.org). Based on UNESCO definition, The Government believes that the inclusive education is a good vehicle in order to achieve completely basic education and to reach education for all (EFA).
There is a successfully story of applying the inclusive education in Indonesia. For around three academic years, The Government has implemented the way of inclusive education by removing cost barrier to school. With this way, poorness children
Do not have any barrier to go to school having their education right. Think simply that the inclusive education has been around us. Another truthfully story that since Ibu Kartini with her fight and effort, girls have had the same right to go to school. Through the spirit historical of Ibu Kartini, Girl children have a great opportunity using their education right.
A school has been inclusive setting. “Bhineka Tunggal Ika” is known by Indonesia People Are aware and can be proofed that in the class a teacher manages class with diverse students as each student is unique. Hence, teachers have roles and responsibilities to identify the learning style and to accommodate the need of each student.
It is not appropriately if the inclusive education is only understood as an education approach for specifically students with disabilities or special needs. The inclusive education is an education approach for all students. The important point that all student who are children with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, ethnic minorities, cultures, genders, condition, in conflict and nature disaster areas. In this sense, the inclusive education affirms to all students so student with disabilities or special needs as part of diversity get benefits from this approach. Students with disabilities or with special needs can go nearest from home to school; they can make friends, playing and learning together. Students without disabilities or without special needs can be motivated and learn appreciating their disabled or special needs friends.
As a result, the perspective of education has been inclusive but the system of education is going to learn becoming inclusive. While, the hard works are still in the process providing facilities and equipments, building support systems and services, the soft works we can start using 3 S “1. Starting now, “) starting our self, 3) starting simple” in creating inclusive learning strategy based on student centre. The view that the inclusive education is around us, is near us so that we should take it not leave it. By applying the inclusive education, we strengthen the application of “Bhineka Tunggal Ika”. By implementing inclusive education, we ensure that children with diversity have right to education.
(an article by Mimi Lusli)