Realising Inclusive Education, IPB Students Conduct Disability School Bus FGD with DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency
Five IPB University students conducted a focus group discussion (FGD) with the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency (Dishub) to conduct social humanities research on the policy of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) related to disability school buses.
The team that joined the Student Creativity Programme for Social Humanities Research (PKM-RSH) consisted of Najma Hamidha (Computer Science), Afifah Nur Inayah (Mathematics), Imam Sutarja (Family and Consumer Science), Siti Rena Handayani and Rhizka Alifia Maryadinnisa (Communication Science and Community Development/SKPM). They were accompanied by Prof Rilus A Kinseng, Professor of IPB University from the SKPM Department.
“After our team previously conducted interviews on the perceptions of parents of students who use school buses with disabilities, we then conducted FGDs with the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency,” said Siti Rena Handayani, a representative of the PKM-RSH team.
The aim, she said, was to analyse the comfort level of the disabled school buses, assess the obstacles during the provision of the buses and assess the level of sustainability. In addition, the FGD is a means to be able to provide recommendations for new regulations and evaluations for the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency, based on the perceptions of parents of students who use the school bus.
On 25 January 2024, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through Dishub launched five units of disability school buses. This bus is intended specifically for students with disabilities to go to and from school. Like other school buses in Jakarta, students do not need to pay to ride this special school bus.
“Therefore, this meeting discusses the background behind the launch of the five disability school buses in Jakarta,” said Rena.
Ngasri, Chief of Service Implementation Unit of Jakarta Transportation Agency, said that the main foundation of the Jakarta Provincial Government in launching disability school buses is to realise equality of services and to ensure the safety and privacy of persons with disabilities.
“Regular school buses are already disability-friendly, but we are launching a more specialised one because the governor has an equality of service programme to fulfil disability rights,” he said.
In addition, Ngasri added, the launch of this disability school bus can be a new thing in Indonesia for the fulfilment of the rights of persons with disabilities in the form of equality. Of course, with adequate facilities and services.
Yudistira, one of the field officers, emphasised that all persons with disabilities can use this bus such as hearing disabilities, visual disabilities, speech disabilities and physical disabilities.
“All disabled friends can use this bus, because this bus has a safety rope for wheelchairs. Then for friends with disabilities who do not attend the Foundation for Disabled Children (YPAC) are also allowed to use this bus if it is still on the same route,” he said.
The existence of disability school buses in Jakarta has received a positive response from the community and has a big impact in supporting inclusive education. “Hopefully in the future, the support that flows from various parties will continue to increase, thus ensuring that this programme continues to grow and provide maximum benefits for students with disabilities in Jakarta,” concluded Rina. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
