originally published by Tabloid Jubi as Pemda Papua
dan Papua Barat Diminta Fokuskan Perguruan Tinggi
Di Papua translated from Indonesian by AKR & staff

The Executive Board of Students from The Faculty of Law (UNCEN) is asking the Government of West Papua to be more focused in handling the issue of higher education in Papua Province.

This was triggered because many of the universities in Papua still lack the means and infrastructure to make the necessary improvements.

Thomas Syuffi, Chairman of the Faculty of Law UNCEN BEM told reporters in Jayapura:

“The lack of facilities at universities in Papua (UNCEN and UNIPA) is used as an excuse to limit the number of indigenous Papuan students attending university. This is just a classic example of how to inhibit indigenous Papuans from entering the State University.”

The hope is for easier access for native Papuan students to the State Universities, considering entrance fees are quite cheap and easily affordable for low-income families.

Syufi said:

“Hopefully, every indigenous Papuan student will have an oppurtunity to attend State University in Papua regardless of the classic reasons, such as– elitism, cultural-tampering or the lack of facilities. The local Government must make improvements, beacuse the State Universities still lack the resources.”

Related to that, it is also regretted that the recent SNMPTN received only 20% indigenous students and 80% non-indigenous Papuan students at the University of Cenderawasih.

“Recruitment of students is still constrained by the capacity of buildings and lecture halls, plus the lack of necessary seriousness from the Papua Provincial Government together with the DPRP.”

While there have, admittedly, been some improvements in human resource development at Papua’s 2 state universities, Unipa & Uncen, these have only been in line with the state budget, while only 30% of the total funds allocated by Special Autonomy (OTSUS) made it through.