The Noken Local Content Curriculum Is Designed By The West Papua Education Office As A Form Of Cultural Preservation

JAKARTA - The West Papua Education Office is designing concrete steps to preserve local culture through the development of the Noken local content curriculum. This effort is focused on special education units in seven districts, as part of a strategy to maintain cultural heritage in the midst of globalization.

Assistant I of the West Papua Regional Secretariat, Syors Alberth Ortisanz Marani, explained that this curriculum is intended so that students can understand and appreciate cultural diversity, including arts, traditions, and traditional values that live in society.

The material in the curriculum will include elements of regional language, traditional arts, procedures for traditional ceremonies, folklore, and other original cultural wealth that should be preserved.

"We give appreciation for the initiative of the Education Office which is committed to introducing local content into special education," said Syors.

He added that the implementation of this curriculum not only enriches students' insight, but is also part of the government's strategic efforts to maintain cultural identity in the midst of challenges of the times.

During the formulation process which took place from 6 to 9 May 2025, this curriculum was prepared by considering various important aspects, especially adaptive teaching methods and easy to understand by students.

"West Papua requires a suitable learning approach and well-received material by students," he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the West Papua Education Office, Abdul Fatah, said that the preparation of this curriculum involved collaboration between special education teachers, academics from the University of Papua, and the Education Quality Guarantee Center (BPMP).

According to him, this collaboration aims for teachers in extraordinary schools (SLB) to be able to implement the curriculum effectively and in accordance with the needs of students.

"With a mature formulation, we hope that Noken's local content can have a real impact in the world of education," concluded Abdul Fatah.