By: Wilem Mandacan *)
Education in Papua is now moving towards greater progress with the launch of the Garuda School, a flagship program designed by the government to strengthen the education system in eastern Indonesia. This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all Papuan children to receive a quality education without having to leave their homeland. Through the Garuda School, the government not only focuses on facilities and infrastructure but also develops a learning system that fosters discipline, creativity, and critical thinking skills among students.
Averos High School in Sorong, Southwest Papua, is one of the schools designated to implement the program. The program was launched simultaneously by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) on October 8, 2025, across 16 regions in Indonesia. This policy is part of the Fastest Best Results Program (PHTC) initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, as a strategic step towards equalizing national education and improving the quality of learning across all regions.
Unlike previous programs, the Garuda School emphasizes teacher capacity building, student development based on regional potential, and technology integration in the teaching and learning process. Through a curriculum relevant to future needs and collaboration with international educational institutions, the government strives to make Papua a successful example of advanced, inclusive, and highly competitive education.
One of the program participants is Julita Abigael Kambuaya, an 11th-grade student at Averos High School. She was selected to be part of the Garuda Transformation School, which provides academic guidance and character development for high-achieving students. Julita views this program as a great opportunity to realize her dream of continuing her education abroad. She aspires to become a mining expert so she can contribute to the sustainable management of Papua’s natural resources. Julita’s views align with government policy, which emphasizes the importance of education as a means of developing superior human resources for their respective regions.
Julita’s mother, Martina Kambu, who works as a civil servant in Sorong, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. He admitted that he was initially concerned about limited access to education in his area, but after learning about the Garuda School concept, he became confident that this program could help realize the dreams of Papuan children. He believes that government support for education has fostered public confidence that equal learning opportunities are no longer difficult to achieve.
This same enthusiasm is also evident among other students at Averos High School. Tesco Aditya Palijama, for example, aspires to become a nutritionist at an international research institution, while Nathanael Ariel Mulkay hopes to pursue a career in social and political fields. For them, Garuda School is not only a learning tool, but also a platform to prepare themselves for future challenges. These hopes illustrate how government policies encourage the development of a young generation who not only possess knowledge and skills but also the motivation to return to develop their hometowns.
Averos High School teacher, Fitra Awalia, sees the presence of Garuda School as a significant step in achieving educational equality. He believes that many students in eastern Indonesia face limited facilities and limited teaching staff. Through this program, the government is providing concrete support to ensure the teaching and learning process can take place at a higher standard. Fitra believes the positive impact is not only on improving academic quality, but also on growing students’ confidence to compete at the national and international levels.
Support for this program also comes from the local government. The Governor of Southwest Papua, Elisa Kambu, views the Garuda School as a strategic policy that opens up new opportunities for Papua’s young generation. She emphasized the importance of utilizing the government’s opportunities to pursue quality education, as human resource development is key to regional progress. She believes that Papuan children have great potential that needs to be facilitated through a focused and sustainable education system.
The Garuda School program is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the foundations of inclusive national education. Through a collaborative approach between the central and regional governments, the government is committed to creating a conducive learning environment, utilizing educational technology, and expanding training for educators. In this way, the quality of learning can be improved equitably across the region.
The presence of the Garuda School in Papua demonstratesThat equal education is not just a plan, but a concrete step being implemented. This program not only provides access to superior education but also fosters a new sense of optimism in the community. Great hope now grows in classrooms in Sorong, where students like Julita and her friends are preparing themselves to become the next generation capable of bringing progress to Papua and Indonesia as a whole.
Through this policy, the government demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that every Indonesian child, regardless of location, has an equal right to the best education. From Papua, this spirit is now growing stronger: that the nation’s future is built by a young generation that is confident, knowledgeable, and determined to contribute to the country.
*) Papuan Education Observer
