Wamena, Indonesia – The Provincial Government of Papua Pegunungan, through its Education and Culture Office, is urging young people in the region to pursue higher education as part of a broader strategy to improve the province’s Human Development Index (HDI), which currently stands at just 54.43 percent as of 2024.
Aron Wanimbo, Head of the Papua Pegunungan Education and Culture Office, emphasized that education is the most effective way for the younger generation to secure a better future and contribute meaningfully to regional development.
“The only way to improve oneself and help build our region is through education. We are encouraging the youth of Papua Pegunungan to chase their dreams by going as far as university,” Wanimbo said in Wamena on Saturday.
He stressed that quality education should not stop at elementary or secondary school, but should be extended to the university level, especially in a newly established province that encompasses eight districts.
“This is a vast region that requires a strong pool of human resources to develop. If our youth are not adequately educated, then who will lead and build this region in the future?” he added.
Wanimbo also called on parents throughout the eight districts to support their children’s education journey all the way to higher education.
In a move to support this vision, the Papua Pegunungan Provincial Government has allocated approximately IDR 125 billion (around USD 7.8 million) in 2024 for its “Papua Excellence Scholarship Program.” The funds will benefit 677 indigenous students from Papua Pegunungan currently studying in universities both domestically and abroad.
The initiative reflects a long-term investment in the province’s future, aimed at reducing inequality and creating opportunities for sustainable regional growth through education.
