Communities, Children and Teachers in Papua – Hand in Hand for a Better Future
Preface
This report presents the findings of a research to explore opportunities to increase access to and quality of basic education in Papua, Indonesia. The main objective was to find ways to motivate the people of Papua to actively participate in realizing their primary right to qualified education, and to involve them in building good governance responsive to the people’s roles in the future.
In October 2009, the Faith-based Network on West Papua Netherlands commissioned a team of consultants to undertake the research. The broad scope of the assignment made a flexible approach and timeframe necessary. In this respect the understanding and support of Jeroen Jurriëns (ICCO) and Marijn Peperkamp (Justice and Peace Netherlands) from the network were highly appreciated by the team.
The team would like to express their sincerest gratitude to those who were willing to share relevant information and provided deeper insights in the education sector, specifically in the Papua situation. We are greatly indebted to Bapak M. Yusuf who was the driving force behind many of our activities in Papua. In Jakarta we received some useful inputs and views from Mr. Arnold van der Zanden, First Secretary and Thematic Expert Education in the Dutch Embassy. Mr. Bagyo Y Moeliodihardjo, lecturer at the University of Indonesia, shared many valuable thoughts and interesting documents on the education sector and its development in Indonesia.
Essential for the accomplishment of this research was the support the team received from Bapak James Modouw, Head of the Provincial Education Office in Papua province. His openness, humour and spirit to improve the education sector in Papua greatly inspired the team. In Papua Barat province thanks to the cooperation of Ibu Bernarda H.M Henan, Head of Provincial Education Office, Bapak Agustinus Sroyer and Bapak Edison Ompe the swiftly organised briefing became a great success, not in the least for all participants who appreciated the organised discussion forum.
The team is indebted to all those who provided relevant data, information and ideas during interviews, focus group discussions and briefings in Papua. Without this information it would never have been possible to compile the current report. We mention just a few of all those we are grateful to: Johanis Rumere who briefly joined the team, Ira Febriana, Rendy Djauhari, Chelsea Tan, staff from the Institute for Civil Strengthening in Papua (ICS) and all those who contributed to the donor matrix. Finally we would like to thank Johan Ceelen for his support, Siswandi Mukharal for his encouragement and critical proof reading and Kustin for her invaluable excel skills.
Finally we are aware of the shortcomings of this report and realise that the wide scope did not allow us to scrutinize all issues that emerged during the research. In this respect, future in-depth study at district level is recommended. We sincerely hope that our findings provide ideas to plan a contribution to realize the right to education for the children in Papua.
Monique Soesman (team leader) & Danarti Wulandari
Jakarta, December 2009
