Written by: Dian Kusuma Dewi
In the remote village of Rajaka on Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Selvita Triyonani walks a muddy path with purpose. As principal of SDN Rajaka, her visit on this quiet morning isn’t routine. She’s heading to the homes of two sisters, Merry and Jessika – both slow learners and at risk of being left behind. Selvita comes not to enforce rules, but to listen, understand, and help their parents see that every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.
“Many believed that children with special needs shouldn’t go to school,” Selvita recalls. “Some even think they should be hidden away – as if they were a family’s shame.” Determined to change this mindset, Selvita uses her experience from teaching children with disabilities and participating in an inclusive education training to lead the school since 2023, despite lingering stigma against inclusive schools.
Selvita met with village leaders, encouraged community gatherings, and opened up dialogue with families. Slowly, the walls began to crack. Parents who once kept their children at home began allowing them to attend school. Her message was clear: inclusion is not a favour – it is a right.
Inside the school gates, Selvita also worked to build understanding. Through the teachers’ working group (KKG), she shared her knowledge of inclusive teaching. “If teachers aren’t equipped, children might come to school but still miss out on real learning,” she said. Her actions reflect the spirit of R. A. Kartini – bringing light to where it’s most needed.
Backing Local Heroines with Data and Support
Selvita’s inspiring journey is not hers alone. R. A. Kartini’s vision taught us that education, particularly for women, is the foundation of change. Across Indonesia, the Australia-Indonesia basic education program, INOVASI, works with schools and local governments to build inclusive education from the ground up. They believe no child should be left behind – and that good decisions start with reliable data. Using the Student Learning Profile (PBS), teachers now identify not only medical conditions but also challenges like difficulties in hearing, speaking, moving, or socialising. In collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, INOVASI is piloting a PBS-based model in four districts – Bogor and Cirebon in West Java, East Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, and Bulungan in North Kalimantan – to show that when data leads, change follows.
At SDN Rajaka, where none of the teachers had specialised training in special education, the arrival of PBS was a welcomed change. After learning about PBS, Selvita immediately began recording student data and quickly trained her colleagues to do the same. In March 2025, she even demonstrated how to fill in the PBS during a teacher meeting. For the educators at Rajaka, PBS has become essential for identifying each student’s needs and tailoring lessons despite limited resources.
Thanks to Selvita’s leadership as a modern woman educator, SDN Rajaka has become more than just a school – it’s a beacon of change. With support from YAPPIKA – ActionAid, the school received crucial teacher training and was officially designated an inclusive pilot school in May 2022. Although challenges remain – teachers work to meet diverse student needs, sometimes even inventing their own sign language—their determination endures because Selvita’s belief is truly contagious.
This Kartini Day, we celebrate women like Selvita – who lead with empathy, challenge outdated norms, and open doors that were once shut. Her story reminds us that leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s a quiet knock on a family’s door. A refusal to give up. A belief that every child counts. And that is what makes change possible.