Enhancing astronomy education for isolated Indigenous communities in Indonesia: A case study in Lampung

The Lampung tribe is one of many Indigenous communities in Indonesia, residing in an isolated area far from Lampung Province’s capital on Sumatra Island. Equitable access to education for children in such regions is essential for inclusive national development, as their isolation often means they lack access to information and educational facilities. This article presents a case study on introducing basic astronomy concepts to sixth-grade students living in an isolated area in Lampung Province. The project was initiated based on the researcher’s observation of the lack of facilities in the elementary school of Gunung Katun Tanjungan village, occupied by the Lampung tribe. Additionally, it was noted that science instruction primarily relied on passive, lecture-based methods. In response, the researcher designed a project with two practical activities that require students to work together: a role-play and an exhibition gallery, to teach basic astronomy concepts. The result of these activities was that students became more enthusiastic about joining other science classes. As a notable outcome, one participating student qualified to compete in a regency-level science competition. Ultimately, this indicates that limited school facilities and living in an isolated area do not prevent students from earnestly engaging with scientific information.