Mataram City Government Implements Policy For Facilitating Down Syndrome Children In Every School

Children With Special Needs When studying at Semarang (ANTARA) school

The Government of Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province made a policy, both at the elementary and junior high school levels, obliged to facilitate children with special needs (ABK) including children with "down syndrome" to obtain the same educational rights. Head of the Mataram City Education Office Yusuf Zain in Mataram, Friday, said the policy was a form of our concern for children with special needs (ABK). "From the existing data, we can say 1-2 crew members are present in every school throughout the city of Mataram blending with other normal students," he said. The statement was conveyed regarding the commemoration of the International "down syndrome" day which is celebrated every March 21. However, in Mataram City, many schools are the goals of children with special needs among others at SDN 20 and SDN 40 Mataram, while the junior high school levels are usually at SMPN 4 and SMPN 7 Mataram. "Parents of children have a lot of special needs to choose such schools, because in that school there are already teachers who are trained how to teach, assist, and develop crew members in the school environment," he said. In that school, children with special needs mingle learn together with other normal students to provide the best service for students. "To avoid bullying, the role of schools and teachers continues to be present and are responsible for providing education to students so as not to happen 'bullying'," he said. On the other hand, to support so that other schools can carry out education towards ABK, Disdik Mataram City has carried out training on the improvement of teacher competences in how to modify in particular various forms of learning to meet the needs of children with special needs. This includes exploring the talents and achievements of ABK in various fields including sports in accordance with the era of independent learning. "For teacher competency improvement training, in particular for ABK, we bring in place trainers from the West Nusa Tenggara Province level," he said.

The hope is that in the future at least every teacher at all school levels in Mataram City will have a special ability to assist children with special needs. "Moreover, children with special needs have many types, so different competency training patterns are needed," he said.*