Legislator: PIP Plays Strategic Role in Boosting Human Resource Quality and Educational Access

Nabire (ANTARA) - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Soedeson Tandra assesses that the Indonesia Pintar Programme (PIP) has a strategic role in improving the quality of Human Resources (HR) and expanding access to education for students.

“PIP is very important because it becomes the key to producing change. Education must be able to change a person’s quality,” said Soedeson Tandra during the PIP socialisation at SD YPK Sion Nabire, Central Papua, on Monday.

He explained that this year his side received a fairly large PIP quota, especially for primary school (SD) level. That quota will be distributed evenly to a number of schools in the Central Papua region.

“This year I received around 2,500 PIP quotas for SD. The hope is that it can be channelled evenly to schools in the eight districts of Central Papua so that more children can be helped,” said Soedeson, who is a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Central Papua electoral district.

According to him, the provision of PIP in the medical field is prioritised for Indigenous Papuans (OAP) so that after completing their education they can return to serve in the area.

“For university students, I received a quota for two people, I require them to be OAP. After graduating, they must return to serve the people of Papua, because we still lack medical personnel,” he said.

According to him, the current health conditions in Papua still face challenges, such as high maternal and child mortality rates, and low reproductive health quality, one of which is caused by the limited number of health workers.

Furthermore, Soedeson also emphasised the importance of transparency in the distribution of PIP funds which are directly transferred to the accounts of each recipient. “PIP funds go directly into students’ accounts, so their use can be on target,” said the member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

On that occasion, he also invited students to understand the main goal of education, which is to create change in themselves and their future.

“Instil that school is for change. From having no qualifications to having the ability to contribute,” he said.

The socialisation event was also attended by the Deputy Regent of Intan Jaya Elias Igapa and several members of the Nabire District House of Representatives (DPRK).