YPMAK Expands Human Resource Development Collaboration with SMA Taruna Kasuari
Manokwari (ANTARA) - The Yayasan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Amungme dan Kamoro (YPMAK) is expanding its human resource development collaboration with SMA Taruna Kasuari Nusantara, which is managed by the West Papua Provincial Government.
YPMAK Chairman Leonardus Tumuka in Manokwari on Wednesday stated that the collaboration aims to facilitate access to secondary education for the young generation of the Amungme and Kamoro tribes, making them increasingly qualified.
“Regarding quotas, we will adjust them to needs. It’s impossible for Central Papua children to take them all; they must be shared with West Papua,” he said.
According to him, SMA Taruna Kasuari Nusantara is one of the flagship schools in West Papua that not only emphasises academic quality but also the formation of mental and character in every student.
This has a positive impact on the quality of human resources of the Amungme and Kamoro tribes, who possess competitiveness in facing global developments and work challenges, including continuing to higher education levels.
“Our hope is that graduates of SMA Taruna Kasuari can enter Akpol, Akmil, IPDN, and others. Every year we provide scholarships to 4,000 children, so we want more specific schools,” he said.
YPMAK, he added, continuously monitors the development of students every year in all schools that have established collaborations to ensure that improvements in education quality run optimally as expected.
“Previously, we collaborated with schools outside Papua, but since this year we are focusing on flagship schools in Papua. For West Papua, there are already three high schools,” said Leonardus.
Head of the West Papua Education Office, Barnabas Dowansiba, assessed the signing of the collaboration between YPMAK and SMA Taruna Kasuari Nusantara as a historic moment that reflects the spirit of collaboration in building Papua.
YPMAK has proven to be the most consistent strategic partner of the regional government in supporting the empowerment of indigenous Papuan communities through education, health, and independent economic development programmes based on local wisdom.
“The West Papua Provincial Government appreciates the dedication and collaboration that has taken place today,” said Barnabas.
On that occasion, YPMAK handed over one four-wheeled vehicle to support the operational activities of SMA Taruna Kasuari Nusantara in order to realise a young generation of native Papuans who are intelligent, disciplined, characterful, and highly competitive.