Arabic sign language in Indonesia

UNICEF has reported that only 30 percent of Indonesia's disabled children attend school. But one religious school is making a difference.

This Islamic school is for deaf children, who now have the opportunity to study the Qur'an in Arabic sign language. Islamic schools are a key part of Indonesian culture. With the world's largest Muslim population, Indonesia has very few institutions which provide religious education to deaf children.

The new school opened in 2019. It was started by Abu Kahfi, who wanted his deaf friends and other deaf children to have the same opportunity to study the Qur'an as the rest of society.

Abu Kahfi: "It started 13 years ago, when I found out that some deaf people did not know their God and religion. I was moved to start a Qur'an group at home and now, 13 years later, I was able to build this boarding school for deaf children."

Students find that studying the Qur'an is challenging. These students speak Bahasa Indonesian and had never had any religious education. Now, they have to learn Arabic sign language to study the Qur'an. It takes about five years for a deaf student to memorise the Qur'an by heart.

Young Muhammad wants to follow in his teacher's footsteps.

Muhammad Rafa: "I am Rafa, 13 years old. I am from Tangerang. I chose to study in this boarding school because I aim to recite all parts of Qur'an by heart. I want to be a Qur'an teacher for children."

For poorer Indonesian families, religious schools are the only means to an affordable education. This new school is also providing hope for Indonesia's deaf community.

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