National Education Minister opens Papua University

National Education Minister opens Papua University

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education inaugurated
on Friday the new Papua State University and appointed the first
rector for the university located in Manokwari city, some 638
kilometers west of the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.

Frans Wanggai, previously the dean of the school of
agriculture at Cendrawasih University in the Irian Jaya capital
of Jayapura, was appointed the rector for the new Papua State
University.

"The new Papua State University is established based on real
needs to develop human resources in Irian Jaya, not because of
separatist' demands," Minister of National Education Yahya
Muhaimin said during his inauguration speech in a ceremony in
Jakarta.

Demand for independence has grown stronger in Irian Jaya due
to strong disappointment toward Jakarta after years of "unfair
treatment and over-exploitation of natural resources".

The Papua State University was formerly the school of
agriculture at Cendrawasih University (Uncen).

The minister also installed Frans Alexander Wospakrik as Uncen
rector for a second term.

The two rectors attended the ceremony held at the Ministry of
National Education in Jakarta.

Director General of Higher Education Satryo Soemantri
Brodjonegoro further said that there were already some 30 private
universities and schools in the easternmost province of Irian
Jaya.

"The problem lies in the fact that the quality of secondary
school graduates is still imbalanced since most them are from
social studies (IPS) instead of science (IPA).

"So the science studies in the university level have fewer
students," Satryo told The Jakarta Post and Media Indonesia.

Under the current conditions, it would take at least five
years to improve the quality of graduates in natural source-rich
Irian Jaya, he said.

"In a bid to cope with the problem, basic science must be
improved right through elementary to secondary schools so that
many students will be able to take science studies in the
universities," Satryo added.

There are currently 2,378 elementary schools, 238 junior high
schools and 105 senior high schools in Irian Jaya.

In a related development, Minister Yahya also revealed that
his office had submitted a revision to government regulations
toward the teachers and civil servants recruitment system in the
wake of regional autonomy.

"We want the recruitment and distribution of teachers, and the
management concerning their status to be handled by the central
government to avoid dissimilarity in the quality of teaching
standards," Yahya said.

"If we stick to the new government regulation of civil
servants administration (No. 96 to 100 which was issued in
November) ... the regions can form their own standards for
teachers. But this can damage the national education system.
Let's say a region needs 200 mathematics teachers. If there are
not enough teachers, the administration will take sports teachers
or other unqualified teachers to teach the class," he said.

Head of the National Employee Affairs Agency (BKN) Prijono
Tjiptoherijanto issued a letter dated Jan. 3, 2001 to all
ministers and all regional leaders that all matters concerning
promotion, transfer, management and pension of civil servants
from echelon I to IV will run as usual (as in the previous
system). BKN has to approve it to avoid dispute in the ill-
prepared regional autonomy.

While for high ranking officials, the recommendation
concerning administrative matters must be officiated by both BKN
and a Presidential decree. (edt)