Background

We are the United Kingdom’s International organisation for educational and cultural relations, connecting people world-wide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and building lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. Funded by BP Tangguh, we have designed and implemented a Basic Education Programme (BEP) in Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni for the period of November 2006 – October 2009.

Formerly a part of Kabupaten Manokwari, the relatively new province Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni now consists of 10 districts or kecamatan (distrik).The population of around 40,000 (2005) comprises roughly 60% indigenous Papuan and 40% of non-Melanesian ethnic origin, including transmigrants from western parts of Indonesia.

Our Goals

The overall goal of BEP is to contribute to the sustained economic and social development of Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni through strengthening its education system. Its purpose is to increase participation in basic education and improve learning outcomes throughout the Kabupaten. The three major areas of concern include:

1. Strengthening policy making, accountability and management of the education service delivery;
2. Improving learning outcomes at school level, and
3. Increasing the demand for education within the community.

In order to ensure sustainability, the BEP works in close partnership with three clusters of stakeholders: the district government which includes Dinas Pendidikan and Yayasan at the Kabupaten level; the schools, which include head teachers, teachers and students; and the parents within the community.

Our guiding principles:

• Sustainable change and local ownership
• Dialogue and engagement
• Inclusion
• Willingness to adapt
• Appropriate solutions for institutional development and capacity building
• Leverage of sources of funds
• Coordination with other development programs
• Active learning

The Challenges Ahead

We have been mindful of the challenges and risks faced with implementing the basic education programme in Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni from the very start. The Project has nonetheless made good progress.

Activities, for the most part, have been implemented on schedule and in a manner appropriate to the local context. There is evidence of positive impact particularly at school level, where the majority of schools have been reached through the provision of appropriate, good quality training for teachers and head teachers. Supporting improvements within the District Education Office has been more challenging and yet there have been achievements, particularly in terms of improving the functioning of school supervisors as well as EMIS “W. John Howe, Independent Evaluator, August 2008”.

At the same time, there are areas that demand more attention if the Project is to achieve sustainable change and wider impact;

• Further support for the District Education Office is crucial in ensuring better policy-making processes, increased accountability and an improved management of the education service delivery in Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni.
• The post-training follow-up support of teachers and head teachers, particularly in more remote schools, needs improvement if they are to effectively implement and continue implementing what they have learned through the Programme.
• In laying the foundations of all future learning, the provision of health, hygiene and nutrition for young children is essential. Achieving the goals of the basic education program in Kabupaten Teluk Bintuni would undoubtedly benefit from the parallel interventions of an early childhood development programme.
• While we focus its basic education programme at SD and SMP, further attention is necessary at SMA level.
• Further support on library and reading corners development is integral in attaining the goals of BEP.
• Although there has been a significant increase in parent’s and community’s interest in education, maintaining this interest will remain a challenge for all stakeholders.
• Gender balance in school participation, particularly amongst girls in the indigenous Papuan population, remains a challenge.

Contact us for more information or call us at +62 21 515 5561