Located at SLB PGRI Kedungwaru, a special school for students with visual impairments in Tulungagung, East Java, students now have a greater opportunity to deepen their religious knowledge thanks to the availability of Braille books. These books—including kitab kuning (classical Islamic texts) and Braille translations—were distributed by the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication at UIN Sunan Kalijaga in collaboration with the Spirit Dakwah Indonesia Foundation and with support from the Directorate of Islamic Boarding School Education (Ditpontren) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

These books are more than just learning aids; they are a gateway to a wider world of religious education for blind students.
“With the availability of these Braille books, our students can now study religion more deeply,” said LilikAsmarini, Principal of SLB PGRI Kedungwaru, on Friday (December 20). She expressed appreciation for the initiative, particularly from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, for supporting religious literacy among visually impaired students.

The school, which currently has 126 students, offers a range of extracurricular activities including Qur’an reading and writing, electronics, and sewing. Lilik hopes that with the help of these resources, students from the senior high school level (SMALB) can pursue higher education.
“We hope our students can continue their studies at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, an inclusive campus that can serve as a model for all Indonesian children aiming to further their education,” she added.

One of the blind teachers at SLB PGRI Kedungwaru, Ustad Arif, expressed deep gratitude for the Braille books. He noted that these materials not only make teaching easier but also broaden access to Islamic education.
“These books greatly assist me in teaching Islamic studies to our students,” said Ustad Arif enthusiastically.

AndraMustazaki, Head of the School Principals Working Group (MKKS) of Tulungagung, also commended the initiative.
“This is a significant step forward in promoting religious literacy among visually impaired students. We hope this support can extend to other special needs schools in Tulungagung so students can receive equal educational opportunities,” he said.

The Braille books distributed include kitab kuning, TerjemahArbain Nawawi, LughotArabiyah, and Braille Qur’an translations. All of these resources aim to enrich the students’ Islamic understanding. With this support, students at SLB PGRI Kedungwaru now have greater opportunities not only to access religious education but also to pursue higher learning.

Dr. Muhsin, Vice Dean for Student Affairs at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to inclusivity.
“As an inclusive university, UIN Sunan Kalijaga welcomes students with special needs to continue their education here. We have a Disability Service Center (PLD) ready to assist them. We hope to help make the dreams of SLB students come true, just like many of our alumni with disabilities who are now enjoying successful careers,” said Dr. Muhsin.

This support marks a real step toward achieving inclusive and equitable education, where students with disabilities can also dream big and pursue their goals.
“We want our children to live independently and be accepted fully by society,” Principal Lilikconcluded, expressing hope that this collaboration will continue to improve the quality of education for blind students in Indonesia.

The delivery of five boxes of Braille learning tools to SLB PGRI Kedungwaru from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Ditpontren) represents not only educational support, but also the beginning of a formal partnership between the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication, SLB PGRI Kedungwaru, and the Spirit Dakwah Indonesia Foundation. All three institutions are committed to ensuring that every child in Indonesia has an equal opportunity to pursue higher education. (Kh)