Jayapura — The atmosphere at SMA Negeri 1 Sentani felt vibrant that afternoon. Under the blazing Papua sun, students eagerly repeated words in the Sentani language, guided by their teacher’s patient voice. Among the observers were delegates from the Merauke Department of Education and Culture, who came to learn how the local language is being taught as part of the school curriculum in Jayapura Regency.
This study visit was part of Merauke’s preparation to introduce a local language-based curriculum by 2026. Prior to the visit, teachers from Merauke had participated in a three-day technical training program at the Papua Provincial Language Center, aimed at strengthening their understanding of local language preservation.
According to Antonius Maturbongs, a Senior Language Expert at the Papua Provincial Language Center, the program was the result of collaboration between the Center and the Merauke Department of Education. “Our goal is to encourage every region in Papua to take concrete steps in preserving their mother tongues through formal education,” he explained.
SMA Negeri 1 Sentani and SMP Negeri 6 Sentani are now recognized as model schools for successfully integrating the Sentani language into the formal education system. In the classroom, students from diverse backgrounds—Sentani, Biak, Toraja, Batak, and others—learn the structure and pronunciation of Sentani words together with equal enthusiasm.
Samuel Suebu, a Sentani language teacher, said that teaching the mother tongue is not merely about vocabulary but also about instilling pride in local identity. “In the past, only a few students could speak Sentani, but now many are able to converse fluently and understand its cultural context. That’s real progress,” he shared.
Merauke’s initiative to learn from Jayapura reflects Papua’s growing movement to preserve its linguistic and cultural heritage. The local language is no longer seen as a symbol of the past, but as an integral part of education—nurturing identity, pride, and belonging among the young generation of Papua.
