Every individual on this earth has the same status, rights, obligations, opportunities, and roles in all aspects of life and livelihood as any other individual. An equal position is a sociological desire and an aspiration for every individual. In Indonesia itself, the foundation of society holds a special place in the state philosophy of the Republic of Indonesia, as enshrined in the 5th Principle, “Social Justice for All Indonesian People.” The values contained in this principle guarantee life and livelihood for all citizens based on the principle of justice.
Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia states that every individual must respect and uphold human dignity without exception. Article 1 paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution declares Indonesia a rule of law (rechtsstaat): “The State of Indonesia is a State of Law.” In a state of law, the state guarantees equality before the law and recognizes and protects human rights, so that everyone has the right to be treated equally before the law (equality before the law).
Equality before the law must be accompanied by equal treatment (equal treatment). One form of such equal treatment is the provision of education at all levels to all segments of society, in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, without exception for persons with disabilities. Article 31 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution stipulates that “Every citizen has the right to education.” Based on this provision, the state recognizes the fundamental right to education for all citizens without any exception.
The enactment of this article implies that providing equal education for persons with disabilities is the state's duty and authority, both in the theoretical regulatory sector and in the implementation of regulations within the framework of nation and state, without discrimination. Persons with disabilities are an inseparable part of Indonesian society, integrated within it, and also possess the same status, rights, obligations, and roles.
It is in this context that persons with disabilities require special attention due to the government's obligation to guarantee and protect the well-being of its citizens. In the world of employment, fair competition for status and rights is only achieved with equal levels of education. The practice of law enforcement in education in Indonesia still reflects injustice between ordinary people and extraordinary people (persons with disabilities).
Persons with disabilities still experience unfair treatment in the world of education, such as numerous rejections for university admission, the notion that disabilities only entitle individuals to attend special universities (which currently do not exist and hopefully never will), difficulty being accepted within the academic community, and various other speculations that discredit the existence of persons with disabilities.
As one of the leading campuses, especially in eastern Indonesia, Makassar State University (UNM) is an ideal campus for most people, including persons with disabilities. Every year, during new student admissions, there are always persons with disabilities who apply to UNM. However, it must be noted that Makassar State University is also one of the state universities that sometimes engages in discriminatory treatment against persons with disabilities.
In this article, the author will reveal various discriminatory treatments that the university has subjected to persons with disabilities wishing to pursue their education at UNM. Of course, this article is not intended to discredit Makassar State University. Moreover, Makassar State University has produced the most graduates with disabilities compared to other campuses in South Sulawesi.
The author merely wishes to broaden readers' understanding of how persons with disabilities should be treated at universities, so that no more discriminatory treatment is experienced by persons with disabilities when they are about to or are currently undergoing the education process at UNM. Hopefully, this article can advocate and contribute as a consideration for the new UNM Rector in formulating policies, so that in the upcoming leadership term, the new UNM Rector can pay more attention to students with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities began to have the opportunity to study at UNM during the leadership of Prof. Dr. Syahruddin Kaseng (UNM Rector 1990-1999). Lukas Palinggi, a visually impaired person, was given the opportunity in 1994 to pursue his undergraduate education in the Special Education (PLB) department. Lukas Palinggi did not experience any discriminatory treatment at that time, considering that the PLB department was deemed the most suitable for persons with disabilities.
Since then, UNM has regularly admitted students with disabilities. Unfortunately, UNM only allowed persons with disabilities to study in the PLB department. This is one example of discriminatory actions that frequently occurred at UNM. From 1995 to 1998, all persons with disabilities who wished to continue their education at UNM were only allowed to enter the PLB department.
For persons with disabilities who wanted to enter other departments, it was certain that they would be rejected. In 1999, a visually impaired person named Iin Syafitri attempted to break through the university's policy that prohibited persons with disabilities from studying in departments other than PLB. Thanks to her perseverance, this visually impaired woman succeeded in convincing the university to grant her the opportunity to study in the English Literature department.
Makassar State University should be proud to have a tenacious alumna with disabilities like Iin. After completing her education at UNM, Iin successfully became a civil servant. Not only that, in 2011, Iin received a scholarship from the Australian government to continue her education in the land of kangaroos. Iin received an Australia Awards Scholarship and completed her master's program at Adelaide University.
Iin Syafitri's success, however, was not enough to convince UNM policymakers to minimize the discriminatory actions experienced by persons with disabilities when wishing to continue their education at UNM. The most frequent discriminatory action was still during the new student admission process. Persons with disabilities were still hindered from entering departments other than PLB.
To address these issues, several education observers, in collaboration with disability organizations, attempted to advocate with the university. Makassar State University's unwritten policy restricting persons with disabilities was deemed incorrect. However, the advocacy carried out during the leadership of Prof. Dr. M. Idris Arief. MS did not have a maximal impact.
While previously persons with disabilities could only enter the PLB department, after the advocacy, they were allowed to enter the English Literature department. So, since 2002, UNM began accepting persons with disabilities in two departments: PLB and English Literature. This, of course, still limited persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, at other campuses, persons with disabilities were starting to get opportunities to study in other departments such as Psychology, Law, Communication Studies, and various other majors.
Persons with disabilities still had to fight to convince UNM policymakers that they could also study in departments other than these two programs. During the leadership of Prof. Dr. Arismunandar. M.Pd, the presence of persons with disabilities received increasing attention. Efforts to improve environmental accessibility for persons with disabilities began.
This can be seen in the construction of the Phinisi building. Although not yet optimal, at least in the construction of this building, which reportedly cost 250 million, efforts have been made to ensure it can be used by all, including persons with disabilities. The Phinisi building is somewhat accessible for visually impaired and physically disabled persons.
For wheelchair users, a special area has been provided to enter the building. Meanwhile, for visually impaired persons, Braille letters have been provided on the elevator buttons. Again, although this cannot be said to be fully accessible for persons with disabilities, those currently studying at UNM greatly appreciate Makassar State University for slowly beginning to address the physical accessibility of the campus environment for persons with disabilities.
Until 2010, the unwritten rule that only allowed a person with disabilities to study in the PLB and English Literature departments remained in effect. Kasmir Padallingan, a visually impaired person from Palopo who at that time participated in the new student admission process and chose Civic Education (PPKN) and Indonesian Language Education, had to bury his dream of studying at UNM because the admissions officers only allowed him to choose PLB and English Literature.
Uninterested in both programs, Kasmir decided to pursue his education at another university. Learning from Kasmir Padallingan's experience, the following year, another visually impaired person named Muhammad Fadli Ismail attempted to apply to UNM using a different technique. Whereas previously a person with disabilities had to report to the admissions committee before registering, this time Fadli chose not to report and instead registered directly and took the written test.
Fadli's unconventional approach proved successful. He was declared to have passed the Guidance and Counseling study program. Currently, Fadli is in his final semester and is writing his thesis. What Fadli did inspired other persons with disabilities to do the same in subsequent years. The author, also a visually impaired person, took the same path in 2012.
Amazingly, the author succeeded and passed the program that Kasmir Padallingan had failed to enter two years prior, namely Civic Education (PPKN). Disaster struck when the author had to undergo a health test. This is where the biggest obstacle emerged. It was then that the officers discovered the author was a person with disabilities and had also passed a program supposedly not intended for persons with disabilities.
The officers withheld all the documents the author had completed to proceed to the next stage. They would only return the documents if the author agreed to transfer to the PLB program. Of course, the author refused and rejected their demand. It turned out that the author was not the only one treated this way. At least 11 other persons with disabilities had similar cases.
We were gathered in a room. This is where the difficult discussion took place. The author tried to encourage other persons with disabilities to reject the discriminatory actions once again carried out by the University. Our position was the same as other students. We had also gone through all the stages required to reach the health test. We had, in fact, already been declared to have passed the health test.
It was only because of our disability that we were hindered from achieving the dreams we had long cherished. In the end, we managed to convince the officers to give us the opportunity to enter the programs we had passed. We were allowed to proceed with the condition that if we failed to keep up with lectures in the first semester, we would be expelled.
We accepted these terms because, of course, we knew we could manage. We are currently in our final semester. As this article is being written, the author is in the process of research to complete the final assignment for a bachelor's degree. As the Rector of Makassar State University for the 2016-2020 period, representing all persons with disabilities who are about to or are currently pursuing their education at UNM, we earnestly request that in the future, during the leadership of Prof.
Dr. Husain Syam M.Tp, we, persons with disabilities, receive greater attention. There are several matters that require your attention, sir. First, regarding the physical accessibility of the campus environment. As the author has previously stated, the only building at UNM that can be considered somewhat accessible is the Phinisi tower. Apart from that building, no other building can be described as accessible.
Many might say that the PLB program area is accessible for persons with disabilities, but in reality, the PLB campus area is far from accessible. Don't believe it? Ask Andi Selvi Fandisyah (PLB student 2015). This physically disabled student faces significant obstacles if her lectures are held on the 3rd floor of the building. Hopefully, in the construction of future buildings at UNM, they can be designed to be accessible for persons with disabilities.
Second, we hope that the discriminatory treatment often occurring during new student admissions can be eliminated. Persons with disabilities have the same right as other students to study in their desired program. Persons with disabilities already have limitations. They should not be further limited in achieving their dreams. Lastly, regarding labeling.
It should be known that everyone has their own name. The same applies to persons with disabilities. It often happens at UNM that persons with disabilities are not called by their names. Instead, they are called by their disability. What is embarrassing is that those doing this are lecturers. It feels truly unethical for someone from the intellectual community to engage in such behavior.
Becoming a person with disabilities is not their choice. Being a person with disabilities is a task given to them by God because they are deemed capable of living life even with limitations. Hopefully, such embarrassing incidents will no longer occur in the future. It is our great hope (as persons with disabilities) that the upcoming leadership term will proceed well.
May all decisions made by policymakers at Makassar State University accommodate all groups. Until finally, Makassar State University can become an inclusive campus for all, especially for persons with disabilities. ________________________________________ This article was awarded Best Essay and won 2nd Place in the Essay Writing Competition with the theme “For (The New Rector of) UNM” as part of the 40th Anniversary of the UNM Professional Student Press Institute.
*Author: Nur Syarif Ramadhan, Student of Civic Education Study Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Makassar State University.