Distribution of PIP Scholarships in West Papua Focused on Remote Areas
Fakfak (ANTARA) - The Chairman of Committee III of the DPD RI, Filep Wamafma, stated that the distribution of scholarships under the Indonesia Pintar Programme (PIP) for 2026 in West Papua Province will be focused on peripheral areas to expand educational access for children from low-income families.
Affirmative policies in distributing scholarships are crucial to addressing disparities in educational access between urban areas and villages, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.
“The distribution will more target students in peripheral areas to truly reach those in need,” said Filep after conducting a recess in Fakfak Regency on Friday.
The optimisation of PIP implementation is inseparable from local government support in providing accurate student data according to the Basic Education Data (Dapodik), as well as parental oversight of the funds’ usage.
“Dapodik must be updated regularly so that students who truly need it can receive PIP,” said Filep.
In 2025, he said, the implementation of PIP, which is a strategic government instrument in ensuring the continuity of education for children in West Papua, reached 36,879 students with a total aid value of Rp26.66 billion.
PIP recipients consisted of 19,487 primary school students with a total aid value of Rp7.82 billion, 9,118 junior secondary school students worth Rp5.60 billion, 6,006 senior secondary school students worth Rp9.70 billion, and 2,268 vocational secondary school students worth Rp3.53 billion.
“PIP is not merely a cash education aid, but a manifestation of the state’s presence to ensure no Papuan child drops out of school due to financial limitations,” he said.
Compared to several provinces in eastern Indonesia, he said, the realisation of PIP distribution in West Papua is still below that of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
The number of PIP recipients in NTT Province is 758,636 students with a total aid value of Rp545.34 billion, and in NTB Province, 470,957 students with an aid allocation of Rp312.93 billion.
“This year, I will strive to increase the PIP quota for West Papua as much as possible, but once again, I hope for support regarding the accuracy of Dapodik,” he stated.