Merauke, Papua — Efforts to build the foundation of education from an early age continue to be developed in Merauke Regency. Through a strategic collaboration between the Education Quality Assurance Center (BPMP) of Papua Province and the 13-Year Compulsory Study Working Team of the Directorate of PAUD of the Ministry of Education and Industry, Merauke Regency has taken a real step in realizing the One-Year Preschool Compulsory Program.
Advocacy and assistance activities that took place at the Winay Meeting Room, Merauke Regent’s Office, became the starting point of cross-sector consolidation to accelerate the implementation of the inclusive education program. The big goal: to ensure that all early childhood children in Merauke get the right to preschool education for at least one year before entering the primary education level.
In a meeting atmosphere full of enthusiasm and sincerity, Regional Secretary of Merauke Regency, Yermias Paulus Ruben Ndike, S.Sos, opened the activity with high appreciation for the support of the central government, especially BPMP Papua and the Directorate of PAUD.
“We welcome this synergy. Compulsory 1 Year Preschool Study is not just a policy, but a real manifestation of our siding with the future of Papuan children. We are also committed to integrating local wisdom in the implementation of this program,” said Yermias.
But in the midst of that spirit, administrative challenges are also a concern. Many early childhood children in remote areas have not been formally recorded in population documents. To overcome this, the Regional Government has made a breakthrough with the Dukcapil Service, one of which is by including children in the Family Card (KK) belonging to relatives or making the mother as the head of the family in the population document to facilitate access to educational services.
This advocacy activity marks the first step towards a greater change in the education system in Papua. With a collaborative approach and sensitivity to the local context, the Preschool One Year Compulsory Study Program in Merauke is expected to be a good practice model that can be replicated in other regions.
Because the future of Papua starts from today’s small step from the PAUD classroom that is full of learning spirit and children’s laughter.
