"One key issue that must be a shared concern is education for people with disabilities. Many, for example, who graduate from junior high school still cannot continue to a higher level due to various limitations," he said at his ministry's office in Jakarta on Thursday.
He also stressed the importance of regional governments providing more inclusive public spaces that are accessible to people with disabilities, including expanding learning opportunities for them.
"We are encouraging local and provincial governments to provide public facilities for people with disabilities, because some of their schools are far from home, difficult to access, and so on. This is our homework going forward," he remarked.
Yusuf also emphasized the importance of data matching through the National Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN) to map out people with disabilities in the country, thereby allowing them to receive more optimal interventions.
The minister also encouraged the community to give their attention to people with disabilities, including providing them with job opportunities.
"For example, entrepreneurs must allocate a one percent quota for employees with disabilities. For state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and the government, it is two percent," he said.
The Ministry of Social Affairs is collaborating with Statistics Indonesia (BPS) to realize a more accurate DTSEN, which is used as a basis for social welfare policies in the country.
According to BPS data, as of July 31, 2025, data from 94.2 million Indonesian families have been verified and integrated into the DTSEN.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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