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)