In the past year, multiple schools across Papua have suffered serious damage due to violent attacks by the separatist armed group, the Free Papua Movement (OPM). These assaults, which targeted elementary to high school facilities, have forced hundreds of students to stop learning, raising alarms about the future of education in conflict-affected regions of Papua.
According to data from the Central Papua Education Office, between June 2024 and June 2025, at least 13 schools were severely damaged and 6 others were burned in armed attacks across the central highlands, especially in Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Pegunungan Bintang.
“Children are terrified. Teachers have fled, and schools are now targets. This has badly disrupted education,” said Markus Tabuni, a district chief in Sugapa, Intan Jaya.
A Series of Violent Incidents
Official reports and national media outlets have documented several major incidents:
- July 18, 2024 – SD Negeri Iniye, Nduga, was set ablaze by armed groups, who also fired at the school buildings.
- September 3, 2024 – YPPGI Middle School in Homeyo, Intan Jaya, was vandalized and looted after an attack on nearby security posts.
- January 20, 2025 – SMK Negeri Oksibil was caught in crossfire during a military convoy, suffering heavy damage to its lab facilities.
- May 6, 2025 – A primary school in Borme District, Pegunungan Bintang, was completely burned, forcing 85 students to evacuate to a neighboring district.
According to the Papua Child Protection Commission, at least 1,200 students were unable to take their 2025 national exams due to destroyed or inaccessible school facilities.
Government and Community Responses
The national government, through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), deployed emergency education teams to Papua in early 2025, providing temporary classrooms, psychosocial support, and student relocation services.
“We will not allow Papua’s children to lose their right to education. These violent acts clearly violate both national law and child protection norms,” said Education Minister Nadiem Makarim in a virtual visit to Timika in April.
Reverend Elimelek Matuan, a traditional and church leader from the Baliem Valley, strongly condemned the attacks:
“This is not a struggle—it’s the destruction of Papua’s future. Children are not the enemy. Schools are not battlegrounds.”
Ongoing Trauma and Shortage of Teachers
The volatile security situation has prompted many non-Papuan teachers to resign, while even local educators have chosen to flee out of fear. As a result, only around 60% of teaching staff remain in high-risk districts.
Papua Cerdas Foundation, a local education NGO, highlighted the emotional toll:
“Children now associate school with gunfire. It’s heartbreaking and severely impacts their motivation to learn,” said field coordinator Yohana Wonda.
The OPM’s repeated attacks on educational institutions not only violate international humanitarian law but also directly harm children’s rights to safe learning environments. Urgent, united efforts from the government, religious leaders, and civil society are needed to restore education in Papua and protect schools as zones of peace and hope.
