Alternatives of Genuine Basic Education Program in Papua Provinces, Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper examines alternatives to accelerate genuine education in Papua Provinces (Papua Province and West Papua Province), Indonesia. It is two strategic Provinces as pillars of the nation in eastern Indonesia. There are several considerations behind the need for a strategy to adjust the implementation of education in Papua. Especially basic education for rural and remote communities in “Tanah” (Land) of Papua. One of them is that currently the educational attainment in these two Provinces are relatively behind compared to most other Provinces in Indonesia. In general, there is still a low learning culture adopted by the people of “Tanah” Papua. This is because, among other things, some Papuans still live in a nomadic cultural pattern (hunting and gathering), which results in low school enrollment rates. This research-based paper uses literature studies, documentary studies, and limited FGDs (Focus Group Discussions) with several stakeholders. The results achieved in this study include: high percentage Senior High School dropout; obstacles for Primary School are reading and writing; while for Junior High School this concern mathematics, languages, and science. The majority of the children do not continue to Secondary school after Primary school. Public and Private schools management system for the interior, coastal, remote, and isolated areas receive very little support for teaching staff, equipment, media materials, school text books, and school administration. Lastly, the majority of isolated areas or marginal communities in Papua cannot read and write. KEY WORDS : Basic Education; Marginal Communities; Learning Culture in Rural Areas. About the Authors: Prof. Dr. Dinn Wahyudin is a Senior Lecturer at the Curriculum and Educational Technology Department, Faculty of Education UPI (Indonesia University of Education) in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Dr . Ir . Agus Sumule is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture UNIPA (State University of Papua), Indonesia. Andi Suwirta, M.Hum. is a Ph.D. Student by Research at the Study Program of History Education SPs (School of Postgraduate) UPI in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. E-mail address: dinn_wahyudin@upi.edu and suciandi@upi.edu Suggested Citation: Wahyudin, Dinn, Agus Sumule & Andi Suwirta. (2021). “Alternatives of Genuine Basic Education Program in Papua Provinces, Indonesia” in TAWARIKH: Journal of Historical Studies , Volume 12(2), April, pp.219-240. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Suci and ASPENSI, with ISSN 2085-0980 (print) and ISSN 2685-2284 (online). A rticle Timeline : Accepted (February 9, 2021); Revised (March 2, 2021); and Published (April 30, 2021).