goodmorningpapua.com – The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Papua and the Regencies/Cities in Cendrawasih land need to immediately formulate a policy on tuition fees for students from Papua who are currently pursuing education both within and outside the Papua region and even abroad.
This step is important following the existence of an education affirmation policy for provinces and districts/cities referring to Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for the Province of Papua.
“During my working visit to Southeast Sulawesi, I set aside time to have discussions with Papuan students in the study city of Southeast Sulawesi. The cost factor for education and housing is still an issue,” said a member of the Regional Representatives Council of the Republic of Indonesia from West Papua Dr. Filep Wamafma, SH, M. Hum to Odiyaiwuu.com in Jakarta, Monday (14/11).
Therefore, Filep, who is also the Chairperson of the Manokwari College of Law, added, with the affirmation of education policies for provinces and districts/cities, local governments, both provinces and districts/cities, must immediately formulate a policy on tuition fees for students who attend good education both inside and outside the Papua region and even abroad.
“In addition, the local government is obliged to improve the basic educational infrastructure in the land of Papua. Remember, special autonomy is a guarantee for indigenous Papuans. We should no longer castrate the rights of indigenous Papuans in the field of education because indigenous Papuans will demand their rights that have been granted in the Papua Special Autonomy Law, “continued Filep, who is also Deputy Chairman of Committee I DPD RI.
On various occasions when he met the top leaders of related ministries and institutions, Filep conveyed the aspirations of the people of the land of Papua. The aspiration is not only education but various other aspects.
During a meeting with the Minister for Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdullah Azwar Anas some time ago, Filep raised the issue of education and employment in the land of Papua. In front of the minister, he said that until now there are still many schools and universities in the land of Papua experiencing tough challenges.
“For example, the problem of a shortage of educators, especially in remote areas. In a meeting with the Minister, I asked the government to increase the recruitment of teacher and lecturer educators to address this problem. I convey this aspiration so that it gets the government’s concern through the relevant ministries and institutions,” Filep told Odiyaiwuu.com in Jakarta, Tuesday (8/11).
During the meeting, said Filep, Minister Azwar said the government had a strong commitment to prioritizing the recruitment of teachers in the land of Papua as a concrete form of implementing the affirmation policy in recruitment (CASN) in 2022.
“In the 2022 CASN recruitment policy, the government focuses on affirmative policies and one of them is for special regions such as Papua. The government also prioritizes teaching, health and technical personnel in order to support the direction of national development and regional potential,” said Filep further
Filep also questioned the many regions in the Terdepan, Terluar dan Terbelakang (3Ts) areas that still lack ASN staff, especially teachers and health workers. This is important considering that the majority are not from the indigenous people of the area.