By : Yowar Matulessy )*
Currently there are 4 new autonomous regions (DOBs) in Papua, namely the provinces of Central Papua, South Papua, Highlands Papua and Southwest Papua. The addition of new autonomous regions provides many benefits and one of them is in the field of education. The new autonomous region will educate the people of Papua because an increase in the province means an increase in the share of scholarship funds for the sons of Cendrawasih.
The Papuan people have great potential, both natural resources and human resources. The Papuan people also have qualified and intelligent human resources, and have even become officials and community leaders. For example, former governor Freddy Numberi and Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
The Papuan people also want to become successful people and the way is through education. Therefore, the government provides scholarships so that they can continue to study and study until they become big people.
The government provides scholarships through the special autonomy fund (special autonomy) and also scholarships provided through the provincial government. Therefore, when there is regional expansion, alias the addition of new autonomous regions, it will make Papuans smarter.
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri), John Wempi Wetipo, asked to collect data and synchronize the receipt of educational scholarships that must be carried out between the Papua Provincial Government and the Provincial Government resulting from the expansion. Where the affirmation education program must be maintained consistently in the transition period, and the Papua Provincial Government is fully responsible for the success of the affirmation education policy transition period.
In a sense, the addition of new autonomous regions will increase the share of scholarships and the central government is really concerned about their distribution. The proof is that the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs asked all officials in 6 provinces in Papua to record and synchronize scholarship receipt data, so that it is truly on target. Papuan people can continue to learn with financial assistance from the government.
Papuan people need higher education in order to have a good standard of living. Then, they also have to be healthy so that they are enthusiastic about working and developing their own area.
In development in the field of education, the government provides special autonomy funds to make it happen. The special autonomy budget is not only in the form of physical buildings, but also in the form of scholarships for outstanding Papuan sons. The special autonomy scholarship is given so that Papuan children can go to school from elementary to high school, even to university.
Politician Otopianus Tebai stated that regional expansion in Papua needed input from various parties so that it met the expectations of the Papuan people. Otopianus also highlighted the importance of strengthening informal education in Papua. Especially for those who are unemployed, assisted and fostered so that they are more independent. He also emphasized the need for the government to consider local political parties as a cultural identity for OAP.
In a sense, regional expansion, aka the addition of new autonomous regions, will have a positive effect on the education sector in Papua. With 4 new autonomous regions, it will facilitate mobility, increase community health and education facilities.
When there is a new province, the government will automatically add APBD funds. This money is not only used to build bridges and other infrastructure. But also to build a complete school building, along with library facilities, etc. The education system in Papua will be much better thanks to the addition of new autonomous regions.
In this way, children in the regions will be able to go to high school level, because the provinces already have good schools. He doesn’t need to migrate to Jayapura, Merauke, or other big cities,
but learn on their own. Papuan children will be smarter and become future leaders.
It should also be noted that the education system in western Indonesia is generally better than eastern Indonesia, such as Papua. In Eastern Indonesia, there are still many children who do not have access to good schools.
Economic conditions, culture and geographical accessibility limit many children in eastern Indonesia from obtaining even basic education. There are still many people who do not care about the importance of education for children. Some are experiencing economic difficulties so they are unable to send their children to school.
One of the factors causing the low level of education in Papua is the geographical conditions that make it difficult for Papuans to get an education.
With the addition of the new autonomous regions, infrastructure will be built in the form of the Trans Papua Road and other roads, as well as bridges. With this infrastructure it will overcome the problem of geographic accessibility. The location of the school will be easier and more accessible to students, so that they are more enthusiastic about learning.
Before there was an addition to the new autonomous regions, many children were forced to drop out of school because they had to work to support their family’s economy. Conservative views in Papua, view that education is something that is not important and reluctance to work causes many Papuans to leave urban areas.
With the addition of new autonomous regions, these problems will be solved because the infrastructure has been built and scholarships have been awarded. Papuan children can continue to go to school without thinking about the cost. They can also study at universities in Papua, Java, and even abroad, if they really excel. The addition of new autonomous regions will educate the sons of Papua.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Manado
