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