Dormitories earmarked for Papuan students

JAYAPURA, Papua: The local administration will set up dormitories near school compounds in Jayapura regency to encourage school-age children to stay in school.

Jayapura education office head Theodorus Arim said on Saturday that the dormitories would accommodate students and teachers from remote areas to support the compulsory nine-year basic education program.

"Currently, thousands of the children in remote areas cannot get education because of the prolonged shortages of schools and teaching staff," he said.

Arim said the poor condition of land, sea, and air transportation had also contributed to the regency's slow progress in education.

He hoped the central and provincial government could allocate funds for the improvement of educational facilities and teachers' welfare in the regency so that they were willing to stay in their posts. --Antara