School-based Teaching and Curriculum Development

Schools and communities surrounding Gunung Palung National Park have little access to basic environmental information. In response, GPOCP provides in-classroom instruction for students using a range of presentation methods. Special curriculum developed by GPOCP's environmental education staff conveys essential knowledge and information about orangutans and their forets habitat and engages students in critical thinking about local natural resource and conservation issues.

Specifically, GPOCP has developed curriculum targeted for each grade level, including puppet shows and songs for early elementary students and conservation-themed lectures and presentations for junior and senior high students. In more remote villages that are visited less frequently, conservation-themed comic books and other learning materials are distributed.

In collaboration with the local education department, we developed an environmental education module that was integrated into the formal curriculum in Gunung Palung area schools. We sponsor ongoing teacher training courses for this initiative and continue to monitor and evaluate its success through follow-up visits with education officials and participating teachers.

A GPOCP presentation at an elementary school near Gunung Palung NP (Photo: John Lay Hery).