NABIRE, Indonesia – The Central Papua Provincial Government has allocated Rp77.84 billion (approximately US$4.7 million) to fund a free education program in the 2026 fiscal year, reinforcing its commitment to improving educational access and human resource development across the province.
The announcement was made by Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa during the opening of the 2026 Central Papua Senior and Vocational High School Student Cultural Creativity Festival at the former Nabire Airport field on Wednesday.
According to Nawipa, Central Papua has become the first province in the Papua region to implement a comprehensive free education program, reflecting the provincial government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young people.
“Pada tahun [anggaran] 2026 Pemerintah Provinsi Papua Tengah membiayai sebanyak 58.920 siswa SMP, SMA, SMK, SLB dan sekolah berasrama. Kami telah menganggarkan Rp77,84 miliar untuk mewujudkan pendidikan gratis di Papua Tengah,” Nawipa said.
The initiative will cover educational costs for 58,920 students enrolled in junior high schools, senior high schools, vocational schools, special education institutions, and boarding schools throughout the province.
Governor Nawipa urged students to take full advantage of the opportunity and emphasized that financial barriers should no longer prevent children from attending school.
“Tidak ada alasan lagi untuk tidak sekolah. Pemerintah sudah hadir dan memberikan kesempatan yang sama bagi seluruh anak Papua Tengah untuk mendapatkan pendidikan yang layak,” he said.
The governor stressed that the future success of Central Papua depends heavily on the quality of education and the character of its younger generation.
“Tidak harus menjadi orang yang paling pintar, tetapi jadilah pribadi yang jujur, berintegritas, dan memiliki karakter yang baik. Itulah yang akan membawa kalian menuju masa depan yang sukses,” Nawipa stated.
In addition to expanding access to education, the provincial government is also working to improve teacher welfare through certification programs. The administration has already facilitated certification for 8,001 teachers and plans to certify an additional 1,000 teachers this year and another 1,000 in 2027.
The teacher certification initiative is intended to strengthen educational quality by supporting educators and enabling them to focus more effectively on teaching and mentoring students.
“Dalam beberapa tahun ke depan hampir 3.000 guru tambahan akan memperoleh sertifikasi. Program sekolah gratis dan peningkatan kesejahteraan guru merupakan bagian dari upaya Pemprov Papua Tengah menciptakan sumber daya manusia unggul, berdaya saing, dan siap menjadi motor penggerak pembangunan daerah pada masa mendatang,” he said.
The free education program and teacher welfare initiatives form part of Central Papua’s broader strategy to develop a skilled, competitive, and capable workforce that can contribute to the province’s long-term social and economic development.
