An Overview of Inclusive Education in Eastern Aceh, Indonesia: What do the Educational Elements Say?

Children with disabilities indeed are encouraged to have equal status in education with the normal ones. However, some domains may face particular challenges. Our article explores the insights of current inclusive education in eastern Aceh – Kabupaten Aceh Timur, Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang


A. Introduction
The Indonesian Government has tried to realize an inclusive education scheme in the entirely traditional schools spread in all provinces, including Aceh Province. This fact is found in its capital, Banda Aceh, where the Government does not offer specific management and supervision toward 17 inclusion-integrated schools (AR et al., 2018). As one of the autonomous provinces of Indonesia, Acehhas many regencies and cities, which are still needed to be concerned. Based on the survey on Disability and Development in Indonesia, its final report in 2015 stated that Aceh had 4,280,284 in its total population. In detail, 4,061,267 were ordinary people, while 219,017 were disabled ones. Therefore, 5.12% of Aceh province's total population were disabled people who spread in all its regencies (Japan International Cooperation Agency, 2015). Eastern Aceh covers two regencies -Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang and Kabupaten Aceh Timur -and one municipality, Kota Langsa, is still developing areas. There are many issues related to the educational fields, specifically regarding the phenomenon of inclusive education, in which special needs students are placed in the regular school system. Based on our preliminary observation over documents and direct reports of educational practitioners and societies in those regions, where many disabled children have no appropriate 'educational rooms,' we believe this condition needs attention.
The special autonomous status offered by the Central Government to Aceh Province in 1959 indeed brought special treatment and status, not to mention the issue of education (Yunis, 2016). To respond to the status, the local Government put a significant effort into supporting the societies for getting the best education, although the quality is still low (Samsuardi, 2022). The execution of inclusive education in Aceh Province was also fully encouraged by the local Government in its Letter of Decision No. 12 of 2012, issued by the Governor of Aceh. It was also supported by the Canon of Aceh No. 11 of 2014, mentioning that schools with inclusive education are under the governor's direct control, and the authorities assist those from the Provincial Education Department (Sabrina, 2017). Inclusive education, however, is not supported in all Aceh regencies and municipalities (Efendi, 2018). The presence of special needs children in either small or large group communities still portrays a negative stigma.
Nonetheless, as a pilot area to implement inclusive education in Sumatra, Indonesia, the Aceh Government has demonstrated a strong commitment and hard work in supporting the inclusive education movement in Indonesia. Inevitably, to study inclusive education and other issues, which probably emerge in a different part of Aceh province, still undercover.
There are several relevant studies related to inclusive education.
The policy analysis toward education provision for disabled students in Indonesia had been projected by (Suwaryani, 2008). She revealed that disabled students were disregarded by common schools and by the education scheme at large. The lack of clarity and inconsistency wasone of the main factors contributing to that exclusion. Meanwhile, Pudaruth et al. (2017) seek to answer pertinent questions regarding university students with disabilities, including their sufficient facilities, awareness of the facilities, and perspectives on equal education. They revealed that most students were unaware of existing facilities and often neglected supporting structures and resources.
The idea of making inclusive schools for disabled students is still questioned and hardly ever discussed in the local context of Indonesia, precisely in eastern Aceh. Thus, further investigation on how proper inclusive education can share inputs for better development of comprehensive education in the province. The inquiry on inclusive education may cover the educational policies, the learning facilities provided, the balance of teacher-student numbers, the process of teaching and learning, and the current conditions of the system. We project that the output of this article may offer an overview of inclusive education in eastern Aceh or even other rural or even urban areas, which we expect it turn into a solution for a better model of the program.

The Concept and Aspects of Inclusive Education
Children with special needs are not a disappointing thing to have.
They are a gift from God to mold the societies around them to have good behavior and attitude to be human and treat humans as real humans.
Miller (2009)  In inclusive education, all students sit in one class atmosphere. Both disabled and regular students acquire knowledge simultaneously and educational and social atmospheres by utilizing the school facilities and services (Lindsay, 2003). However, the term integrated education system put a slight difference. The terminology of an integrated educational system is also an essential concern. It is different based on the needs of an Nevertheless, the emphasis is about to fit the student into the system; instead, the system adapts to meet the educational needs. For instance, in some countries like India, integration means providing educational facilities, mainly to students with mild disabilities considered 'easy' to include in regular school programs (Sharma & Deppeler, 2005). Students with severe disabilities, in a common of cases, do not attend a school, or, in rare cases, they go to a particular school. Nonetheless, children learning together in the same classroom, using materials appropriate to their various needs, and participating in the same lessons and recreation, exist in some school institutions. In Indonesia, the integrated educational system varies. Those depend on the needs of the environment. Some traditional schools also run the inclusive system even though those have fewer disabled students who are then studying in an inclusive school. In several cases, some with special needs are hard to find in the learning process.

Organizing Inclusive Education
Naturally, inclusive education aims to give a chance for disabled children to get access and be treated as normal children. Therefore, all students need to be supported to have learning experiences in line with the same learning goals. It is not merely running the system to get the inclusive class without the supporting elements (Srivastava et al., 2015). Then, learning facilities become a crucial part of implementing the plan. Facilities and infrastructures provided by the school should align with the needs of the students (Azizah, 2011;Lindsay, 2003;Manan et al., 2020). For instance, In addition, other essential aspects that should be provided are the availability of educational documents, teachers, and staff. Educational documents refer to various document types, including assessment results and curriculum or individualized educational programs. Educational documents also play an essential role in students' learning process with special needs (Amka, 2019;Azizah, 2011). Furthermore, teachers and staffs play significant roles in making inclusion succeed. Teachers and staff need to be equipped with relevant professional competencies to work with special needs students. Inclusive schools may require teachers who have a background in special needs education (Azizah, 2011). Determining the class service for each student with special needs, through discussions between the classroom and special education teachers, on the other sides, will aid them in finding a better teaching method. Collaborative teaching practice is also needed to support the teaching-learning process. Besides, adequate support from school members includes the principals, classroom teachers, subject teachers, regular students, and school employees. Further sustenance from the Education Board through training programs is also sufficient to support the inclusive school system (Sujarwanto et al., 2018).

Inclusive Education in Indonesia
At present, 32 thousand traditional schools have become Inclusion

C. Method
We applied a qualitative approach through a descriptive method.
We explored the current condition of inclusive education in eastern Aceh, particularly in three areas -two regencies (Kabupaten Aceh Timur and Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang) and one municipality (Kota Langsa). Soon as the research board of Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry approved the ethical consideration of our article, we started the fieldwork in early 2020; in the meantime, we have prepared a schedule of semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. The schools we selected were based on our preliminary observation, where those institutions accepted disabled students.
The closed-questionnaire patronizing Pudaruth et al. (2017)  Further, we clustered all the research participants -respondents and informants -into several levels. We categorized students based on their educational levels, while we grouped the teachers, principals, and officials based on the demographic area where they worked.
The data analysis we carried out was in two ways. The data obtained from the students were screened through the Likert Scale. The results were in diagrams, which defined their average responses.
Meanwhile, we analyzed the data collected from the teachers, principals, and officials by following the stages promoted by Miles et al. (2018) -data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. In the data reduction, we verified and trimmed the collected data. For the data display, we attached closely-related, critical interview excerpts to associate with the objective of our article. In the last step, we exposed the previous stage's results by elaborating those with our analysis, related theories, and relevant research.
Then, we showcase the different outputs of the data analysis in the Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT) analysis matrix.

D. Result and Discussion 1. The Conditions of Inclusive Education in Eastern Aceh
We found that only 12 schools implemented inclusive education in eastern Aceh. In detail, Kota Langsa City has three SDs and three SMPs, However, when we visited several schools implementing inclusive education, marked with asterisks in Table 1, they currently did not have DS.
Also, we list 104 respondents and informants in Table 1.

Students' Attitudesto Inclusive Education
The questionnaires distributed to the DS and NS in this study covered their preferences for their teachers, friends, and school facilities, which defined the inclusivity. Based on Figure 1, DS loved their schoolteachers, including their personality, the way of teaching, their aid regarding the students' needs, and the achievements gained from the teachers. These findings correspond to the preference of the NS as in Figure   2. Besides, almost all NS loved their teachers and other matters, such as their characters, support, teaching methods, and student test achievements.
However, some NS thought that the teacher's focus was disturbed by the existence of DS. Fortunately, NS still believed in the professionalism of their teachers in preparing the lesson regardless of the presence of DS.

Figure 2: Normal Students' Attitudes toward Inclusive Education
Furthermore, in Figure 2, almost all DS loved their friends who have disabilities and those who have not. They agreed that their friends were decent to them. Therefore, DS had no worries about playing or going anywhere at school. Similarly, NS delivered reciprocal attitudes. They loved their friends, including those with disabilities ones. NS did not feel DS was irritating. They also believed in DS that they might have the same possibilities to reach exemplary achievements as they did.
Both DS and NS also have similar attitudes toward the school facilities. The two groups loved their schools, covering their classrooms, computers, libraries, and sports facilities. They also agreed that school staffs were helpful and allowed them to get access to many spots in their schools. Too, NS had no problem studying with DS, although half of NS did not think that their school had a particular class for DS. Hence, referring to a school implementing inclusive education should be no problem with the DS.

Teachers, Principals, and Officials' Perspectives on Inclusive Education
The three regions in this study had their local educational authorities. In addition, the provincial branch of the education department also exists in each regency and municipality. They are responsible for formulating, implementing, and evaluating other functions in terms of education, including inclusive education within their regional areas. These make them autonomous. Theoretically, the double institution under the same minister indeed would have dual power to execute problems and improve the quality of education. However, based on the excerpts (abbreviated as E) of interviews scripted in E1, E2, and E3, the departments seemed to have no authority to allocate funding for the development of inclusive education. current condition of support and facilities for the DS in special and regular schools were hard to retrieve. Their role should be more on administrative aspects by compiling data from schools on pupils -DS and NS, teachersspecial education and regular ones, and facilities regarding the support of inclusive education (Kuyini & Desai, 2007). Each department has its team to inform policies or assess the process of education running. The response of the education department committed is to attract teachers to learn more about inclusive education while waiting for other potential policies for implementing inclusive education in each sub-regency, which is at least one school. The real action in instructions may draw a positive trend instead of disseminating suggestions.
Meanwhile, the school committees also shared the same views on inclusive education. One of the chief questions being asked to RS, SS, and SP during interviews was whether they had issued policies about support for DS or not. The responses were surprising; where all of them delivered similar answers that they had DS-related policies existed in their schools.
For instance, in SDIT Darul Mukhlisin, even though the teachers had their training, they relied more on oral communication to inform societies nearby that their schools supported DS, even in their school admission brochures.
Another potential reason for the non-existence of written policies at the school level was insignificant since no policy at the regency or municipal level could be used to establish the policy at the school level.
Therefore, if the consequences of the policy were to have, to illustrate, financial resources, there was no guarantee that they would be allocated. As demonstrated earlier, no policy related to education provision for DS in regular schools was in place at the regency or municipal level. This condition means that there would be no resources allocated in this area. It rejects the concepts of educational revitalization regarding inclusive education sounded by Adhi and Seniwati (2018). The system's needs are maintainable appropriately by having complete support from the authorities, including getting the parents' trust of student candidates.
Accordingly, because of the absence of written policies at the regency or municipal level, no program was implemented, and no resources were allocated in regular schools, apart from those involved in the integrated education project. This condition would undoubtedly influence how teachers deal with DS.

Discussion
The research result reveals that inclusive education in eastern Aceh still faces many challenges and constraints. We analyzed inclusive education's strengths, weaknesses, and threats using a SWOT analysis matrix. Then, we proposed the further development of inclusive education in Eastern Aceh, as showcased in Tables 2, 3, and 4.

Strengths (S) Weaknesses (W)
DS in special schools visited had their achievements and specialties.
Only a few DS were well-trained to sharpen their unrevealed skills Eastern Aceh has many disabled children who should be registered in schools, either in regular or special schools Presumably, several disabled children were kept in their homes to do nothing as if they did not need to get an education.
The Government of Aceh had specified the implementation of inclusive education in regular schools.
The implementation of inclusive education in Eastern Aceh was not practically implemented by examining the support of the Government.
Eastern Aceh has a potential role model for schools to employ a proper inclusive education in Aceh Tamiang. It may guide other schools or even the Government. Moreover, it acts as a center of education and motivation for disabled children, even adults.
The school's existence has been ignored in some ways -it lacks information and supports provided by the Government toward the school to enhance the synergy with other schools.
Some special schools offered dormitories for students, which made them get trained for a full day freely.
The facilities in the dormitory offered by special schools are poor, specifically in the particular private school observed in Aceh Timur Regency.

Opportunity (O) Threat (T)
The implementation of inclusive education in regular schools is encouraged and supported by the Government of Indonesia.
The implementation of inclusive education in Eastern Aceh was not practically implemented by examining the Government's support to the several special and regular schools in eastern Aceh.
Aceh Province has a special autonomy to conduct specific policies, including Some communities in areas like Aceh Timur Regency are not aware of inclusive The Government of Aceh had been specified the implementation of inclusive education in regular schools.
The spread of inclusive education would take time due to the few facilitators, the awareness of communities, and the locations of schools in rural areas.
There are two state universities in Eastern Aceh.
Lack of teachers who have specialties in special education A broad area possessed by Aceh Province, particularly Aceh Timur Regency Lack of official job vacancies for disabled or regular teachers having specialties in special education

Strategies upon Threats (ST)
As the Government encourages the implementation of inclusive education in regular schools, maximizing the human resources, especially the existing teachers, would be a significant step in developing inclusive education.
Providing counseling and frequent workshops could aid the potential DSin shaping their skills. The unstandardized curriculum in schools implementing inclusive education contributes to the program's inefficient jargon -all students have an equal position to absorb the educational transfer (Amka, 2019;Azizah, 2011). Even though the Government has prepared the framework as one of the SPs mentioned in E4 above, where the schools adjust it based on their needs, the coordination among traditional schools implementing inclusive education is necessary (Azizah, 2011;Lindsay, 2003;Pudaruth et al., 2017;Suwaryani, 2008). Teachers may share their problems found, and at the same time, they will obtain specific inputs from other teachers (Kuyini & Desai, 2007). This reciprocality is important since DSisunique; thus, they require special methods. It requires district or municipal governments to appoint at least one primary school and one junior high school in each sub-district.
In addition, the change in authority regarding the management of special education as Regulation No. 23 of 2014 marked the Regional Government turns into a challenge. Currently, special schools are managed by the Provincial Government after previously being handled by the Regency or Municipal Government. Budget allocation is one of the issues in maintaining the quality and provision of special education facilities. Thus, through the education zoning policy, the Government is trying to be swifter in intervening and affirming increasing access and quality of education for children with special needs, particularly in promoting inclusive education.
From the 80 percent zoning, a quota is required for students with special needs and poor students. This policy has a target that there is at least one inclusive school in each zone. In addition, the system of inclusive education should be explicitly handled with the appropriate special education teachers and funding (Azizah, 2011;Kuyini & Desai, 2007;Lindsay, 2003). It corresponds to the suggestion promoted by Suwaryani (2008) that the poor dissemination of education policy contributed to the ineffective integration of inclusive education.
We believe that changing the current policy documents to move toward inclusion is necessary. As Lindsay (2003) promotes, community awareness campaigns, ongoing support, and practical guidelines are some of the implementation strategies that need to be considered. Priority should also be given to encouraging every school, not only pilot schools, to increase the participation of DS in learning together with their NS within their available resources (Amka, 2019;Azizah, 2011;Lindsay, 2003). Besides, schools that provide inclusive education can work together and build networks with special education units, universities, professional organizations, rehabilitation institutions, hospitals, community health centers, therapy clinics, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and the community. We expect those working group teams of inclusive education to synergize in promoting the importance of special education in their respective regions. Thus, the accessibility for children with special needs still requires improvement in public schools and those that have implemented inclusive education. Each representative should provide inputs to improve services for DS regarding increasing accessibility in inclusive schools.

E. Conclusion
We are concerned that very few disabled children receive support in eastern Aceh. Too, we argue that while changing people's conception of the right of DS to be educated in mainstream schools in their neighborhoods is a formidable task, high priority should also be given to encouraging every school to attempt as much as possible. Of course, support from the education authorities to increase the participation of DS in learning together with NS is necessary.
Nevertheless, we acknowledged the shortages in our article. Indepth research related to the attitudes of DS and NS toward their expressions of schooling, the contribution of social organizations in supporting them, and their parents' views in registering their children are essential, particularly in the broader scope. To add more knowledge, comparing the implementation of inclusive education in Aceh Province with other provinces in Indonesia will also suggest another insight. Some instances made our article lack generalizing the overview of inclusive education. Another prospect research isregarding education provision for DS in regular schools, particularly in urban areas.