90 Southwest Papua Students Join ADEM Program Across 4 Provinces

Governor of Southwest Papua (PBD) Elisa Kambu announced that 90 indigenous Papuan students (OAP) from six regencies and cities in the province will participate in the Affirmation of Secondary Education (ADEM) Programme, pursuing senior high school education in four provinces: Bali, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, and Banten. “The ADEM Programme is an excellent opportunity for Papuan children to broaden their horizons, build character, and increase future competitiveness,” he said in Sorong on Saturday. He explained that the ADEM Programme is one of the government’s efforts to improve the quality of Papuan Human Resources (SDM) through access to education outside the region. The participants, he continued, must make the most of this opportunity earnestly, as all educational costs borne by the government represent a state investment to produce an excellent generation of Papuans. The Governor also reminded the students to adapt to new environments, respect the culture of local communities, and establish good communication with foster parents, mentors, and friends during their education. He stated that the Southwest Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov PBD) is responsible for the recruitment, briefing, preparation, and departure processes of the ADEM Programme participants. Meanwhile, the educational costs while the students are in their destination areas are funded by the central government through the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN). In addition to gaining academic knowledge, he said, the participants will also gain life experience, expand their friendship networks, and build character through interactions with communities from various regions in Indonesia. The 90 ADEM Programme participants consist of 16 students from Sorong City, 16 students from Sorong Regency, 15 students from Raja Ampat Regency, 15 students from South Sorong Regency, 14 students from Tambrauw Regency, and 14 students from Maybrat Regency.