Papua lacks skilled workers

Papua lacks skilled workers

MANOKWARI, Papua: Some 70 percent of workers in Papua neither
graduated from elementary school nor had any education at all
despite its wealth of natural resources, Governor JP Salossa
revealed on Monday.

According to Salossa, the poor record was attributable to lack
of access to education facilities, as many Papuans lived in
remote areas.

He said the poor education would hamper Papuans from competing
with migrants from other provinces or expatriates in search of
jobs.

It is feared that the less qualified Papuans may turn into a
mass of unemployed people, which later on could trigger social
unrest.

Salossa said nine-year compulsory education and free tuition
for children would be his administration's top priority, in a bid
to produce more skilled and educated human resources. In the end
higher education would promote the well-being of Papuans, said
Salossa. -- Antara