"There should be no Islamic educational institution that refuses to educate children with special needs. Instead, we must ask how far we can give for them," he said on Friday.
He then stressed the importance of providing respect and fair treatment without discrimination to people living with disabilities.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has declared all Islamic education institutions under the auspices of the Directorate General of Islamic Education as disability-friendly school units, he noted.
The Directorate General of Islamic Education has mapped out and built infrastructure with the assistance of disability experts, he informed. Furthermore, a commitment is needed to maintain and implement the facilities to support disabled-friendly learning, he said.
All Islamic education units are expected to implement and cultivate Islamic education values that accommodate people with disabilities, Ramdhani said.
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"I urged this policy must be implemented consistently," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, Prof. Al Makin, said the Ministry of Religious Affairs' policies have been implemented at his institute. In fact, UIN Sunan Kalijaga was designated as the first disabled-friendly Islamic campus in 2007, he said.
Education without discrimination is a good practice, not only for academic discussion purposes, but also for community service, he remarked.
Concern for people with disabilities is also an effort that every university must carry to bring more contribution to all levels of society, he said.
"Disability is not a matter of knowledge or morals, but a fact of life. It cannot be denied. God created disabled persons and they should not be avoided. We must be able to accommodate their needs," he added.
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Translator: Asep F, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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