The Reading and Writing Movement or Gabus program, which has been implemented by personnel from the Jayapura Resort Police Office, Papua Province, West Papua, Indonesia since 2021, has been an effective way to increase the literacy of people in this region. The ability to read, write and count is an important aspect for everyone.

Therefore, a number of police personnel were moved to increase the literacy of local residents. This is not an easy task amidst the police’s busy schedule in maintaining public security. However, the program, which was implemented 3 years ago, is starting to bear fruit. Before implementing the program, the Jayapura Resort Police Office first prepared personnel by involving them in a teaching program.

Before being deployed into the field as teaching staff, the teaching police participated in training carried out through the Mother Preschool program implemented by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.

The aim is for the police to better understand and know how to teach effectively so that it is easier for participants to understand.

The participation of police personnel on duty at Jayapura Police in an effort to increase community literacy because they saw that in the field there were still many children and youth who had dropped out of school and were not fluent in reading and writing.

Apart from that, many parents also experienced the same thing, so the Gabus program was intensively implemented. It is hoped that in the future all sector police stations in the Jayapura Resort Police Office area will be able to implement a similar program to help the community around their assigned areas.

“Through the Gabus program, the Jayapura Resort Police Office is trying to help residents improve their literacy so that they are no longer in the category of people who cannot read or write fluently,” said Jayapura Resort Police Chief Fredrickus WA Maclarimboen.

Activities involving personnel are carried out in the midst of their busy daily duties, some even do it after office hours. Gabus activities for the police are carried out between visits to inmates in their area, while for policewomen members they are carried out after office hours, with a teaching duration of around 1 hour.

Currently the Jayapura Resort Police Office has 106 active personnel who are members of the Jayapura Police Gabus program. The number of Gabus participants is currently recorded at 127 students.

Students who are already fluent in reading and writing will be reported to the Ministry of Education and Culture so they can take part in the test program and receive a Literacy Certificate.

Indeed, currently only 12 Gabus participants have received Sukma, but in the future the party will try to get more Sukma, and can even take the equivalency exam in the form of packages A, B and package C.

The Head of the Jayapura Resort Police Office hopes that agencies or parties who care about the world of education will help and work together to eradicate illiteracy among residents in Jayapura Regency in particular and West Papua as a whole.

Study outdoors

Teacher Agustina Felle, a teacher at Komba Elementary School, Sentani District, admitted that she was called to join forces with members of the Jayapura Resort Police Station.

He spends about 1 hour teaching children and adults who cannot read fluently or who are still illiterate.

As a teacher, he is responsible for the children around him who cannot read and write fluently, causing their education to be hampered and even to the point of dropping out of school.

Therefore, with the Gabus program, it is hoped that they will become more fluent in reading, writing and even arithmetic so that in the future they will want to continue their education to a higher level.

“They are the future of the nation so all parties are expected to help educate children, especially those around the house,” said Felle, who provided one of the rooms in her house for teaching and learning activities.

Khatarina H.L. Aya, a teacher who works at the Resort Police Station, admitted that she was happy to join in Cork activities because it could help people become literate.

While carrying out these activities, he sometimes does it in an open space because he has to get closer by visiting residents and adjusting their time.

This is different when he teaches children and young people who have dropped out of school or who cannot read and write fluently, which is usually done in people’s yards.

“Everywhere we are ready to provide lessons, both children and parents. “The important thing is that they want to learn and take the time to be able to read and write,” said Khatarina.

Don’t be shy about learning

Mama Ina Wenda, a participant in the Gabus program, who has started to become literate, expressed her appreciation for the dedication of the police who are willing to take the time to teach those who cannot yet read and write.

However, the 50 year old woman who sells daily at Sentani Market stated that she was not embarrassed to study with other students.

Mama Ina was seen diligently writing word for word and listening to the lessons given by the policewomen using a small table with a floor covering.

“I want to be able to read and write fluently like everyone else.” said Mama Ina, who admitted that she was happy to be able to learn to read and write.

Children who learn to read and write fluently also say the same thing because by participating in these activities they become more fluent, making it easier to follow lessons at school.

After the children took lessons conducted by the police, he admitted that he was more fluent in reading and writing, as were several other participants.

“Thank you, Mr and Mrs Police, for teaching us so we can read and write fluently,” said Isak, a Gabus student.

Currently, places actively carrying out Gabus activities by the Jayapura Resort Police Office include Honai Gabus’ house in Toladan Sentani Village, Martina Sawa’s house in Nembrungsari Village, Nimbokrang District, Depapre Police’s Pijar Learning House, Yuliana Felle’s house on Jalan Durian Komba, Bintang Mountains complex , and others.

What the police do now can change the future of the Gabus participants. Because, by reading and writing fluently, participants’ horizons will be increasingly open.