Second Place in the 2026 RRI PTQ Competition, Mutiara Rahmadani Proves Disabilities Are Not a Barrier
Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) has once again achieved a proud achievement through one of its students, Mutiara Rahmadani, a Special Education student in the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP). Mutiara won second place in the Female Visual Sensory Tartil category in the 2026 Quran Recitation Week (PTQ) organized by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).
This student from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, represented Regional Coordinator 8 Banjarmasin in the competition after successfully passing the selection stage for recordings submitted to the committee. Interestingly, Mutiara’s preparation was relatively short. She only had about two days to prepare before competing in the Grand Final on February 28th.
“I received information about the competition from one of the teachers at the orphanage for the blind where I live. Preparation was indeed very short, but thank God, I passed the selection and was able to participate in the grand final,” she said.
This achievement feels even more special because Mutiara’s journey in learning Quranic recitation began simply and with great perseverance. Since childhood, she taught herself by listening to the recitation of holy verses from a Quran speaker, then imitating the recitation until she became accustomed to it.
The 2026 PTQ event was also Mutiara’s first experience participating in a national-level competition. She admitted that the most memorable moment was the opportunity to meet many blind friends from various regions in Indonesia.
“The most memorable thing for me was that this was my first experience participating in a competition like this. I also got to meet blind friends from various regions, which was very gratifying,” she said.
Behind this achievement, Mutiara has a story of struggle that wasn’t easy. She attended a special school in Balikpapan from 1st grade to 12th grade. There, she began to learn braille and computer technology with a screen reader. When she was in 10th grade of high school, her father passed away—an event that forced her to learn to live independently in her daily life.
“After my father passed away, I started learning to go everywhere on my own, even using online motorcycle taxis. From there, I learned to be more independent,” she said.
Her decision to continue her studies at Lambung Mangkurat University also stemmed from family encouragement. Although she initially dreamed of studying in Java, she ultimately chose ULM and now lives in a shelter for the blind in Banjarbaru to continue her education.
Her academic journey was supported by a scholarship from PT Bayan, which not only fully funded her studies but also provided her with school supplies, including a laptop, to facilitate her learning process.
In the future, Mutiara aspires to become a teacher who can help friends with disabilities, especially the blind, gain better access to education.
“I want to help my blind friends who haven’t had the opportunity to go to school. There’s still a lot of stigma against people with disabilities, and I want to help change that,” she said hopefully.
Dr. Utomo, M.Pd., from the Center for Inclusive Education Development and Disability Services at LPMPP ULM, expressed his gratitude for Mutiara’s achievements. He hopes that ULM students with disabilities will achieve even more success in the future.
“This is truly extraordinary. We are proud, and hopefully, they will remain enthusiastic about participating in other competitions in the future. Hopefully, this will motivate other friends with disabilities to develop their talents and interests in their respective fields,” said Dr. Utomo.
Mulitia Rahmadani’s achievements are proof that limitations are never a barrier to achievement and inspiration. Lambung Mangkurat University remains committed to supporting and encouraging students from various backgrounds to develop their full potential.
Through academic support, facilities, and open spaces for achievement, ULM hopes that more students will achieve impressive achievements—at the regional, national, and international levels—and inspire the wider community.
