PROMOTING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION IN INDONESIA THROUGH CIVIL POWER

Abstract

The Government of Indonesia noticed that an inclusive education system is the best option to address the diversity of students’ need. It will open-up the access to education so all students can participate in learning process and maximize their potential. Inclusive education is about the achievement of highquality education for all learners and the development of more inclusive societies. However, to date, the implementation of inclusive education still struggle in Indonesia. Low of community, students, parents, teachers’ understanding about children with special needs and inclusive as well as inadequate accessible infrastructure become major problems. One of the source of civil power that presence in Indonesia is Wahana Inklusif Indonesia. Wahana was established in 2013. Wahana supports the inclusive education implementation in Indonesia through the provision of inclusive education training for teachers, parents, education community and government officials; advocating children with special needs’ right; conducting family counseling and consultation program; and public campaign. Wahana Inklusif Indonesia has established a good partnership with national and sub-national government in Indonesia and support 130 students with special needs, trained more than 100 teachers from 5 inclusive schools on inclusive education and disabilities specific knowledge. Wahana Inklusif Indonesia has assisted East Java Early Childhood Department in developing an inclusive education program for early education of children with special needs. Even though Wahana is relatively new but the organization has promoted various forms of substantial changes, structural, procedural, as well as public (sensitizing) for the implementation of inclusive education.