"Negative stigma surrounding inclusive educational services is a challenge that must be responded to with concrete efforts from all relevant parties," she said in a written statement released here on Friday.
According to Moerdijat, the dissemination of information on the importance of inclusive education needs to be carried out consistently to tackle the stigma in society.
She also underscored the need to improve the competency of teachers in applying inclusive teaching methods to meet students' special needs.
To achieve this end, she said, it is important to provide training to teachers, especially consistently integrating materials for students with disabilities and inclusive education into the school curriculum.
Moerdijat expressed the hope that through teacher readiness and improved community understanding, inclusive education can be applied optimally in the country.
"Wider implementation of inclusive education is expected to support the realization of education services that are more equitable for every citizen," the MPR deputy speaker said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education highlighted that stigma is still posing a challenge to realizing inclusive early childhood education.
Director of early childhood education teachers at the ministry, Suparto, said that more than 36 thousand educational institutions have committed to providing inclusive education despite the challenges they face, including negative stigma.
Another challenge is the limited knowledge and experience of early childhood education teachers regarding inclusive education, he added.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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