By : Saby Kossay )*
Papua is being massively developed by the government. Not only infrastructure, but also education. Development in the education sector is prioritized so that Papuan children are smarter and become good quality candidates for national leaders. Papuans are Indonesian citizens, so they must have access to good education.
The government is developing Papua so that there is equity throughout Indonesia. From Sabang to Merauke there must be justice in development, so that all people feel the same progress. Papua was built using special autonomy funds (special autonomy) and APBD funds so that it continues to progress.
Development in the education sector is also prioritized for the future of Papuan children. The Central Government through the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) accelerates the improvement and equity of education in Papua and West Papua. Some of the programs that will be focused on include providing one-roof schools with a dormitory pattern, to increase school enrollment rates.
In addition, in a period of five years, the government has built 34 junior high schools (SMP) with a boarding pattern that are adapted to the geographical conditions of each region.
The Minister of Education and Culture’s expert staff for central and regional relations, James Modouw, stated that the intervention to provide schools in remote areas was a priority. In particular, connectivity for schools that do not have electricity and the internet is also prioritized.
In a sense, the construction of school buildings is prioritized so that there is an equal distribution of education in Papua. Not only in Jayapura, Manokwari and Merauke areas, but also in other areas such as Intan Jaya, Yahukimo and others.
With so many school buildings, it is certain that all Papuan children can go to school up to a minimum of high school. They can come to a nearby school building in their area and don’t have to travel long and tiring journeys like before, when there were no schools in their district.
Moreover, Papua’s geographical condition is very different from Java or Sumatra, where road access has not been 100% perfected. Therefore, the government built school buildings so that the students’ distances were closer and no one dropped out of school. They can study and become intelligent children.
James continued, in general there are two major tasks carried out by the team for accelerating educational development in the two regions, namely coordination and facilitation. Everything is done to comply with the PP on Guidance and Supervision.
Then there is also the application of the contextual curriculum for Papua and West Papua which is structured based on local content as well as regional languages which can assist teaching and learning activities.
There is a curriculum for hunter-gatherers, a rural community curriculum, and an urban community curriculum. Strengthening in the form of implementation technical guidance and assistance will continue to be carried out. Teacher quality development is also carried out in relation to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for learning.
In a sense, not only the construction of school buildings made by the government. But also strengthening the curriculum, so that teachers will be more enthusiastic in teaching. The students are also happy because they use the independent curriculum so they can study well and achieve achievements.
The government is also building internet networks in schools so that they can be used for teaching and learning processes. That way, the learning process will be more enjoyable.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has inaugurated the Secretariat for the Acceleration of Education Development in Papua and West Papua at the Office of the Papuan Education Quality Assurance Agency (LPMP), in Kota Raja, Jayapura, Papua. A special and unusual approach is needed to accelerate the improvement and equity of education in Papua and West Papua.
One of the team’s tasks is to coordinate and facilitate with district/city governments as managers of basic education, early childhood education, and non-formal education. Meanwhile, the provincial government manages secondary education and special education. In addition, the team is also expected to play an active role in coordinating with agencies outside the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In a sense, the government wants to accelerate the improvement and equity of education in Papua. The goal is to have equal access to education. Not only the school building but also the facilities (library and internet access), computer lab, etc. The teachers are also of good quality and teach from the heart so that the teaching and learning process will run smoothly.
To support the education process for Papuan children, various scholarships have been given to them. First, there is the Special Autonomy (Special Autonomy) scholarship which can be enjoyed by elementary to high school students, as well as university students. Second, there is the Affirmation of Secondary Education (DEM) scholarship. Third, there is a scholarship using the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP).
The government supports the acceleration and equity of the education sector in Papua. This is done by building school buildings in various areas of Cendrawasih Earth, even in remote areas. Then there are also improvements to the curriculum and upgrading of teachers, provision of internet access to support information technology learning, and the provision of scholarships to sons of Papua.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta