Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has approved the transfer of financial support for 37 Papua students—previously funded by the Papua Regional Government (Pemda)—to the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP). The decision was made following recurring delays in scholarship disbursement that had disrupted the students’ studies abroad.
The announcement was delivered by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian after a limited meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace Complex in Central Jakarta on Monday (24/11/2025). The meeting was also attended by Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
According to Tito, the government is currently monitoring around 300 Papua students studying overseas. Among them, 56 students have encountered significant issues due to late scholarship payments from the regional government.
“There are more than 300 students—some in the United States, Australia, and other countries. From our data, 56 students have not been fully covered; their payments are still pending and often delayed by the regional government,” Tito explained.
To prevent further disruption to their education, the government decided that the funding for the 37 most-affected students will be immediately taken over by LPDP.
“Instead of being delayed any longer—which would be unfair to the students—I proposed that the Ministry of Finance, through LPDP, take over their funding. The President agreed; these 37 students will now be supported by LPDP,” Tito stated.
Tito added that the list of affected students will be promptly submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to expedite administrative processing.
“I will immediately hand over the data to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he concluded.
