Enhancing the educational and human resource quality in the province of West Papua has always been the main objective of the Indonesian government. However, one issue demands special attention from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, underlying the massive expansion in the province: the sustainability of traditional schools.
The Importance of West Papuan Customary Schools
The land of Papua is a resourceful land with noble customary values. For indigenous elders, customs are wisdom values, and they are one of the essential journeys of a life phase. Therefore, these values must be preserved and taught amid modernization.
While the values of local wisdom are not written, the moral messages can become norms that are retained and implemented in everyday life. Here, the said values are customs, rites, oral traditions, local languages, traditional games, sports, etc.
These critical values are taught to native Papuan children by the elders in their tribe. Native sons and daughters are also required to uphold these traditional values despite the central government’s effort to promote human resources through formal educational systems.
West Papuan Customary Schools
In West Papua, there are two well-known traditional schools: Kambik and Wuon. Kambik, which means ‘home’ in the local language, is the Moi tribe’s educational system in Sorong. It is a valuable asset for the tribe, as only the tribe members are allowed to obtain knowledge from their educational system.
For three to 24 months, pupils at the Kambik school will be taught about leadership, tribal customs, and knowledge in specific fields. One of the many essential principles students will obtain from this school is the value of democracy. Everyone in the Moi tribe has the equal right to communicate their opinions.
Besides Kambik, there is also one customary school in Tambrauw Regency, West Papua, namely Wuon. This school is an education system specifically developed and taught by the Meyakh tribe who inhabit the district. It is where the young generation of the tribe learns a lot about traditional values and local wisdom.
Meyakh boys aged 12 to 15 years will obtain education in a forest to be real men aware of their duties. They will also learn how to cultivate medical herbs and produce herbal medicine. In addition, they will obtain fishing skills, hunting, archery skills, etc.
The most interesting thing about this customary school is that students are not allowed to be visited by their parents throughout their schooling in the woods. Even these youngsters are only permitted to consume one or two types of food. That is because it is regarded as a means of gaining a greater connection with nature and the higher power.
The Government’s Effort to Revive Customary Schools
One of the major priorities of the Indonesian government is to improve the quality of education in West Papua. However, indigenous peoples hope that local traditional values will continue to be taught amid the vast development of modern schools. If local values cannot be taught in modern schools, traditional schools are the solution.
Wuon and Kambik are West Papua’s indigenous traditional schools, which have benefited from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s particular attention.
That was conveyed by Sjamsul Hadi, Director of Belief in God and Indigenous People, during his speech at the EcoNusa Outlook event on February 10, 2022, which focused on the government’s efforts to preserve and enhance the country’s indigenous culture.
Sjamsul Hadi said he and Nadiem Makarim visited Malaumkarta in Sorong Regency, where the Moi indigenous people reside. He recognized that traditional schools had many interesting aspects that needed to be addressed.
For example, when it comes to forest processing, the indigenous people of the area have the best understanding of how to use forest resources without harming them. Of course, it’s not only about the forest; conventional schools may teach you about various other essential topics.
Furthermore, taking culture into account is a vital transformation process. Modern human beings can’t live as they do now without culture. People in West Papua are part of a culturally rich nation. Therefore, preserving the existing customary values and passing them on to youngsters are critical, such as through customary schools.
