Special CPNS Quotas for Persons with Disabilities: Just a PR Stunt?

Jakarta, Kartunet - After a long wait, information regarding special quotas for persons with disabilities in this year's CPNS (Civil Servant Candidate Selection) has finally been published on the Panselnas website. Lagging far behind the official opening of CPNS 2014 on August 24th, this information only became accessible this week, even though the application submission period has not yet begun. This is the realization of a promise made by the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN and RB) several months ago that there would be 300 vacancies for applicants with disabilities in CPNS 2014. However, is it truly ideal? Information regarding these 300 special quotas for persons with disabilities can be viewed directly on the Panselnas website. Indeed, there is a significant change in terms of numbers compared to the quota for persons with disabilities in last year's CPNS. Furthermore, the application system is also integrated with institutions in the general quota. However, there are several very fundamental aspects that need to be criticized within these special quotas. Firstly, the special quotas are only open in two institutions: the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemsos) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud). This is somewhat disappointing because the promised 300 quotas were not distributed evenly across various institutions and agencies opening CPNS vacancies this year. Although this can still be tolerated if considered a starting point. Secondly, the system implemented, with requirements for educational background combined with disability type, further narrows the opportunities for persons with disabilities to choose vacancies. If examined further, these special quotas for persons with disabilities actually make things more difficult compared to general quotas. For example, a visually impaired person who is highly proficient in office computing and the internet, with a background in Indonesian Language Education, cannot apply for a Computer Administrator position because the requirements state that applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and also be visually impaired. In this case, the rule makes it more difficult because two parameters must be met simultaneously. Thirdly, the distribution of vacancies based on disability type is still carried out through a unilateral assessment that does not observe the factual conditions of persons with disabilities on the ground. They still view persons with disabilities from their limitations and thus assume that they can only perform certain tasks. However, in this era of inclusive education, persons with disabilities have started pursuing university majors that align with their interests, no longer solely Special Education or Social Welfare. Furthermore, in some vacancies open for specific disability types, the stipulated educational background requirements are not yet accessible to those disability types. For instance, for a computer administrator position open to visually impaired individuals, the requirement is a D3 (Associate's Degree) in Computer Systems. In reality, we have never encountered a visually impaired person pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, let alone an Associate's degree program. This is because, until now, these majors have been considered inaccessible to visually impaired individuals. Yet, many visually impaired individuals are highly proficient in operating computers and the internet with screen reader devices, even without a computer science background. This form of ignorance, packaged with the arrogance of policymakers for these special disability quotas, must be corrected immediately. Good intentions, constantly touted but without sufficient knowledge and empathy, should not end up being fatal for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, try to broaden perspectives and think more simply when viewing disability. Do not view them first from their shortcomings; instead, look at what they can do, and then try to facilitate those shortcomings with solutions. If the government, in this case, the Ministry of Social Affairs as the leading sector for disability affairs and the Ministry of PAN and RB as the recruiter, genuinely intends to elevate the status of persons with disabilities, there is no need for such complicated CPNS selection processes. Simply set quotas in all institutions without requiring specific disability types. If necessary, educational background requirements could even be softened by including course certificates or skills genuinely needed for the position. This would allow applicants with disabilities more freedom to choose vacancies that align their job descriptions with their abilities. Aren't there several stages in CPNS selection, from Basic Competency Tests, Field Competency Tests, to Special Competency Tests or interview sessions? Let them apply according to their interests and estimated abilities. Provide accessibility assistance when taking exams. Then, if they pass all stages of the test, assess whether they can perform the job description of the position they applied for. If they are capable, with supporting accessibility facilities, then there is no longer any reason to reject them, allowing for fairer competition based on competence. Persons with disabilities can no longer be considered 'half-humans' who lack thoughts and the right to determine their own destiny. The government should not position itself as the party that knows everything about persons with disabilities. Grant freedom, and the government merely needs to ensure accessibility without discrimination. After all, if they do not pass because they cannot meet the determined quality standards, that is not an issue as long as accessibility has been guaranteed. Hopefully, there will be immediate changes in the CPNS 2014, which has allocated special quotas for persons with disabilities. May these good intentions not merely be an image-building tactic by a government wanting to appear caring, when in fact there is no genuine commitment.(DPM)