The influence of policy commitment, school management, environmental issues, and education of character on ethnic sentiment and nationalism identity of Native Papuan students at the dormitory school

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of policy commitment, school management, environmental issues, and character education on ethnic sentiments and the Identity of Native Papuan Nationalism in boarding schools. This research was conducted in 2018 in five boarding schools located in the districts of Timika, district Nabire, district Jayapura, district Keroom, and Jayapura municipality. The research sample included 12th-grade students with a total of 120 participants obtained through random techniques. Data collection was through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD). Study analysis was done using the structural equation modeling (SEM) Lisrel 8.80 program. The results showed that the variable policy commitment, school management, environmental problems, and character education had a significant effect on regional sentiment which became an intermediary variable that influenced national identity. This situation is conducive to policy commitment and school management that has a systematic and quality-oriented vision; exploitation of natural resources that provide employment opportunities that is beneficial to the welfare of local communities and protects the ecosystem from destruction, and implementation of planned character education with complete instructors and supporting facilities; however it tends to weaken the orientation of regional sentiments instead of strengthening the support and planting of national identity. Wise actions from the central, provincial and regional governments are still highly expected, in order to increase national awareness and strong behavior of indigenous Papuans.

Keywords: Dormitory school, commitment policy, school management, environmental issues, character education, ethnic sentiment, nationalism identity