National Education Minister opens Papua University<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education inaugurated
\non Friday the new Papua State University and appointed the first
\nrector for the university located in Manokwari city, some 638
\nkilometers west of the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Frans Wanggai, previously the dean of the school of
\nagriculture at Cendrawasih University in the Irian Jaya capital
\nof Jayapura, was appointed the rector for the new Papua State
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
\"The new Papua State University is established based on real
\nneeds to develop human resources in Irian Jaya, not because of
\nseparatist' demands,\" Minister of National Education Yahya
\nMuhaimin said during his inauguration speech in a ceremony in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Demand for independence has grown stronger in Irian Jaya due
\nto strong disappointment toward Jakarta after years of \"unfair
\ntreatment and over-exploitation of natural resources\".<\/p>\n
The Papua State University was formerly the school of
\nagriculture at Cendrawasih University (Uncen).<\/p>\n
The minister also installed Frans Alexander Wospakrik as Uncen
\nrector for a second term.<\/p>\n
The two rectors attended the ceremony held at the Ministry of
\nNational Education in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Director General of Higher Education Satryo Soemantri
\nBrodjonegoro further said that there were already some 30 private
\nuniversities and schools in the easternmost province of Irian
\nJaya.<\/p>\n
\"The problem lies in the fact that the quality of secondary
\nschool graduates is still imbalanced since most them are from
\nsocial studies (IPS) instead of science (IPA).<\/p>\n
\"So the science studies in the university level have fewer
\nstudents,\" Satryo told The Jakarta Post and Media Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Under the current conditions, it would take at least five
\nyears to improve the quality of graduates in natural source-rich
\nIrian Jaya, he said.<\/p>\n
\"In a bid to cope with the problem, basic science must be
\nimproved right through elementary to secondary schools so that
\nmany students will be able to take science studies in the
\nuniversities,\" Satryo added.<\/p>\n
There are currently 2,378 elementary schools, 238 junior high
\nschools and 105 senior high schools in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Minister Yahya also revealed that
\nhis office had submitted a revision to government regulations
\ntoward the teachers and civil servants recruitment system in the
\nwake of regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"We want the recruitment and distribution of teachers, and the
\nmanagement concerning their status to be handled by the central
\ngovernment to avoid dissimilarity in the quality of teaching
\nstandards,\" Yahya said.<\/p>\n
\"If we stick to the new government regulation of civil
\nservants administration (No. 96 to 100 which was issued in
\nNovember) ... the regions can form their own standards for
\nteachers. But this can damage the national education system.
\nLet's say a region needs 200 mathematics teachers. If there are
\nnot enough teachers, the administration will take sports teachers
\nor other unqualified teachers to teach the class,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Head of the National Employee Affairs Agency (BKN) Prijono
\nTjiptoherijanto issued a letter dated Jan. 3, 2001 to all
\nministers and all regional leaders that all matters concerning
\npromotion, transfer, management and pension of civil servants
\nfrom echelon I to IV will run as usual (as in the previous
\nsystem). BKN has to approve it to avoid dispute in the ill-
\nprepared regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
While for high ranking officials, the recommendation
\nconcerning administrative matters must be officiated by both BKN
\nand a Presidential decree. (edt)<\/p>",
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