One type of scholarship organized by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP) is the Affirmation Scholarship for Papuan students. This scholarship is specifically for the people in Papua Province, West Papua Province, South Papua Province, Central Papua Province, Highland Papua Province, and Southwest Papua Province. Through this scholarship scheme, Papuan children who want to continue their master’s and doctoral studies will be supported by financing, both at domestic and foreign universities.
Rector of the University of Papua Meky Sagrim encouraged Papuans to take advantage of this opportunity to continue their education to the highest level. He said human resources in Papua were still limited. For this reason, the opportunities that exist today need to be taken advantage of.
“I think that we in Papua always say that human resources are still limited, still not advanced, and so on. The government has prepared a good opportunity for us,” Meky said in an online socialization on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
Before LPDP opened the Papuan Sons and Daughters Scholarship, the number of LPDP scholarship recipients from Papua was still very low. Only a few Papuans pursue scholarships for graduate and postgraduate studies through LPDP Scholarships. Since the establishment of LPDP, there have only been 179 indigenous Papuan scholarship recipients. This is what finally motivated LPDP to launch a special program to spur the participation of Papuans, through the Papuan Sons and Daughters Scholarship program. This program was first launched in 2022 and has managed to attract 205 recipients.
Much lighter requirements
LPDP Scholarship Director Dwi Larso on the same occasion said that the Papua Sons and Daughters Scholarship has requirements that are much lighter and easier than other LPDP scholarship programs. According to him, this takes into account the conditions and obstacles faced in the land of Papua. In addition, of course, in order to provide access to inclusive education.
Therefore, said Dwi, it is necessary to encourage Papuan children to continue their higher education and return to serve. “This is the homework of Mr. Meky and his friends in Papua and West Papua. How can they can interact with the ecosystem there with a soft landing and can maximize contributions to progress there,” he said.
In line with that, Head of the Scholarship Development Subdivision Hentri Wibowo confirmed that the Papuan Sons and Daughters Scholarship program has easy requirements. Especially for applicants for this scholarship, they are not subject to the requirements for cumulative grade point average or GPA and English language skills. Successful applicants will be facilitated to obtain language certificates through the Language Enrichment program. “The Papuan Boys and Girls Scholarship is the lightest, because we do not require GPA and English language competence.”
Meanwhile, from the aspect of age limit, specifically applicants for the Papuan Boys and Girls Scholarship are also higher. A maximum of 47 years for masters program applicants and 50 years for doctoral program applicants. “This is the target; friends are indigenous Papuans. One or both, either the mother or biological father of the indigenous Papuans, have a native Papuan surname. Evidenced by a statement letter that the registrant is an OAP. Second, family cards and identity cards are included,” said Hentri.
West Papua Now 