By: Piter Roki Aloisius (Northern New Guinea LeaderWWF-Indonesia Papua Program)

Environmental education local curriculum content books for primary and secondary schools are ready to be implemented into even semester student books in 2018. This was stated by the Head of the Education Office of Yapen Islands Regency, Papua, at the "Public Consultation on Environmental Education Local Content Book for Yapen Islands Regency" held in Serui, last Thursday (30/11) in the room of the Regional Secretary of Yapen Islands Regency.

The public consultation of the local content book was attended by Assistant III for Administration, General and Finance while representing the Regent of the Yapen Islands, Head of the Education and Culture Office, SKPD representatives from Bappeda, Tourism Office, Environmental Service, Agriculture and Plantation Service and Fisheries Service, Chairman of the Yapen Customary Council, representatives of primary and secondary school teachers in the Yapen Islands Regency, as well as teachers of the local content book writing and compiling team. The next process, the local curriculum content book for environmental education will be stipulated in the Yapen Islands Regent Decree before being launched on January 10, 2018.

The Regent of Yapen Islands in a speech read by Assistant III for Administration, General and Finance conveyed the importance of environmental education as an effort to change the behavior of various parties by increasing knowledge, skills, and public awareness of environmental values and problems. In the end, the community can play an active role in environmental conservation and safety efforts for the benefit of current and future generations.

In the Education for Sustainable Development program, WWF-Indonesia together with the Regional Government of Yapen Islands Regency through the Department of Education and Culture of Yapen Islands Regency play an active role in encouraging elements of society to jointly maintain, preserve, process, and utilize natural resources wisely and responsibly. One form of joint commitment is the development of an Environment-Based Local Content curriculum. The Yapen Islands Regency Education Office has allocated funds for the duplication of local content books which are targeted to be used by elementary and junior high school students in 2018.