West Papua allocates Rp57.06 billion for education assistance

Manokwari (ANTARA) – The West Papua Provincial Government has allocated Rp57.06 billion through its Papua Barat Cerdas programme to provide education assistance to senior secondary and vocational school students, as well as university students. The programme is aimed at 10,872 recipients.

West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan said in Manokwari on Monday that the assistance includes school uniforms, academic achievement scholarships and funding for higher education, from diploma courses to doctoral programmes.

“The Papua Barat Cerdas programme has 10,872 recipients, comprising senior secondary and vocational school students as well as university students,” Dominggus said.

He explained that the largest allocation is for 2,351 general undergraduate students, totalling Rp23.51 billion. Each eligible student will receive Rp10 million, provided they meet requirements including a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

Uniform assistance will go to 4,691 students—3,424 at senior secondary schools and 1,267 at vocational schools—with a total allocation of Rp12.81 billion. Each senior secondary student will receive Rp3 million, while each vocational student will receive Rp2 million.

“The province is responsible only for education assistance for general undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.75. If the GPA is below that, it becomes the responsibility of the regency,” he said.

For higher education, the provincial government has set aside Rp1.06 billion for 106 medical students and Rp2.8 billion for 28 students undertaking professional medical training, or clinical placements.

“Achievement scholarships will go to 2,450 senior secondary students, with a total budget of Rp6.56 billion, and 1,055 vocational students, receiving Rp2.83 billion,” Dominggus said.

The allocation for diploma-level education assistance is Rp133 million for 19 students, at Rp7 million each. Funding for postgraduate study totals Rp2.62 billion for 131 master’s students, and Rp1.14 billion for 38 doctoral students.

The provincial government is also providing special education assistance to two pilot-training students, with a total budget of Rp2 billion, or Rp1 billion each.

“In addition to education in Indonesia, assistance is available for one student studying overseas, amounting to Rp1.60 billion,” Dominggus said.