The story of how Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari successfully integrated maritime education into the local curriculum of three pilot elementary schools.
TELUK WONDAMA — For the children growing up on the coasts of Teluk Wondama, the sea is not merely a landscape. It is a playground, a source of livelihood, and a determinant of their future. However, understanding the ocean requires more than just knowing how to swim or fish. More importantly, it requires a conscious awareness to protect the life that depends on it.
This awareness drove Yayasan Meos Papua Lestari (YMPL), supported by funding from the Blue Abadi Fund (BAF), Innovation Grant, Cycle 5, to bring maritime issues into the classroom. From January to October 2025, YMPL carried out a strategic mission: integrating Maritime Education as a Local Content Curriculum (Muatan Lokal or Mulok) at the elementary school level.
A Curriculum Born from the Coast
This initiative stemmed from the conviction that coastal regions need a generation that understands their identity and environment from an early age. Following an intensive coordination process with the Education, Youth, and Sports Office of Teluk Wondama Regency early in the year, three schools were designated as pioneers: SD YPK Raisei, SD Negeri Wasior, and SD Inpres Aisandami.
This commitment was realized through the development of structured and sustainable Maritime Insight Education (PPWK) teaching modules. The modules for grades 3, 4, and 5 were not only printed and distributed but also had their copyrights registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in February 2025. This step marked YMPL's seriousness in maintaining the quality, originality, and future sustainability of the teaching materials.
Before being introduced to students, teachers were prepared through a Training of Trainers (ToT) session in April 2025. Ten teachers from the pilot schools were equipped with contextual learning approaches and methods. The response from the educators was positive; they found the modules relevant to local conditions, while suggesting the addition of marine biota terms in the local language to make them more relatable to the students' daily lives.
The Enthusiasm of the Ocean Guardian Generation
The program's impact became evident during classroom implementation. A total of 262 students from the three schools participated in six learning sessions with high enthusiasm. Classrooms that were usually formal transformed into lively, participatory discussion spaces.
Grade 3 students showed great interest in visual materials about the coastal ecosystem. They were able to identify local fish species and distinguish between eco-friendly and harmful fishing gear. At the Grade 4 level, an understanding of conservation began to grow through simple, digestible explanations.
Meanwhile, Grade 5 students displayed proud critical thinking skills. In discussing the theme "Maritime Nation and Marine Resource Wealth," they actively compared textbook materials with the real conditions of their surrounding environment. Group discussions became dynamic and collaborative, a learning atmosphere rarely created before.
Becoming Part of the Official Curriculum
The pinnacle of this program's achievement is institutional recognition. The Education Office and the schools agreed to accept the Environmental Education Implementation Plan proposed by YMPL. In the odd semester of 2025, the Maritime Education module was officially used as local content material, replacing the "Malaria Free" topic.
With support from the local government—including informal approval from the Regent (Bupati) and a Joint Agreement Document (SKB) with the schools—YMPL has laid a crucial foundation for environmental literacy in Teluk Wondama.
Now, coastal children no longer view the sea merely as a backdrop to their daily lives, but as a precious heritage that must be understood, loved, and sustained from an early age.
