Senator Filep: If the Special Autonomy Law is Implemented Consistently, it Will Definitely Solve Education Problems in Papua

24 January 2023 oleh admin

JAKARTA, dpd.go.id - In 2022, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released the West Papua Province Human Development Index (IPM) of 65.89, up 0.63 points compared to 2021, while the Papua Province HDI is 61.39 , up 0.77 points. Unfortunately, the increase in the HDI has not changed the position of the two provinces nationally. This issue continues to be voiced by DPD RI West Papua Province member Filep Wamafma.

"Since Special Autonomy (Otsus) volume I, the issue of HDI for the provinces of Papua and West Papua has always been the lowest among other provinces. I don't want to negate all other aspects, but in my opinion, the most important thing why it seems that the Indigenous Papuans (OAP) are always looked down upon, are at the bottom of the list, is because of education issues," said Senator Filep, Monday (23/ 1/2023).

This is because BPS data until 2021 shows that the school enrollment rate (APS) for elementary and junior high schools in Papua and West Papua is still the lowest and below the national average. BPS also noted that 33.58% of the Papuan population aged 15 years and over do not have a diploma.

In addition, the Expected Years of Schooling (HLS) and Average School Years (RLS) in these two provinces are still below the national average. According to Filep, this is of course related to the quality of human resources.

"For example, the Bank Indonesia Report on the Economy of West Papua for 2022 states that West Papua's human resources have decreased in the highly educated workforce sector such as diplomas and degrees, namely by -1.18% in February 2022. So it is indeed very difficult to compete," said Filep.

Furthermore, the Senator who is also an academic then highlighted the decline in education in Papua with the allocation of the Special Autonomy funds that the Government disbursed for the education of the Papuan people.

"The total Special Autonomy funds from 2002 to 2022 reached 1,092 T. Even transfers to regions and village funds reached 702.3 T, the highest nationally. But let's see, education in the Land of Papua seems to be running in place. I once complained about how the highest percentage of spending on education affairs in Papua and West Papua was actually the highest for personnel spending. The focus is on employee operations and administration. If it's like this, it is feared that the essence of educational progress in Papua will not be achieved," said Filep again.

In this regard, Filep then reminded again of the regulatory order. He explained, Article 34 paragraph (3) letter e number 2 states that revenue that has been earmarked for use on a performance-based basis of 1.25% of the national DAU ceiling, is intended to be at least 30% for education spending. Article 36 paragraph (2) letter a also states that for Oil and Gas DBH, 35% is allocated for education spending.

To carry this out, Article 56 emphasizes that the Provincial and Regency Governments are responsible for administering education according to their authority, which is then stated in PP 106 of 2021. Furthermore, the Special Autonomy Law also requires the Provincial and Regency Governments to allocate education budgets up to the tertiary level for OAP, provide educational units, educational facilities and infrastructure, educators and educational staff.

The Vice Chairman of Committee I DPD RI also said that implementatively, PP 107 of 2021 and PP 106 of 2021 further regulates the orders of the Special Autonomy Law. Specifically for education, Article 3 PP 107 of 2021 states that the acceptance policy in the context of Otsus is managed effectively, efficiently, transparently, involving community participation, in favor of OAP, which includes equal distribution of services and improving the quality of education by prioritizing OAP, regarding the authority of the Provincial and Regency Governments related to educational autonomy.

"This law is a solution, for partiality towards the world of education in Papua. Therefore, the governance of policies in the field of education must be totally evaluated by the regional government. The percentage of Otsus funds and affirmations for OAP are orders from the Special Autonomy Law to affirm OAP. So if during the Special Autonomy era there were still problems with education, it shows that our orientation is not towards the development goals and future of OAP in the world of education," said Filep.

Filep explained, the appendix to PP 106 of 2021 has explained in a lex scripta and lex stricta manner, the extent of the authority of the Provincial Government and Regency Government regarding education in the framework of Special Autonomy. He emphasized that in principle it is an affirmation of OAP, that OAP must obtain quality education even for free.

"PP 106 of 2021 places the authority for the Provincial and Regency Governments to prioritize granting scholarships to OAP. For the Provincial Government, the authority is to provide education financing facilities for each OAP to ensure that each OAP receives education from early childhood to tertiary education free of charge or free," he said.

"Meanwhile, the Regency Government has the authority to provide special education services, priority is given to OAP who have the potential for intelligence and special talents, or are in remote/underdeveloped areas, areas with remote indigenous peoples. The same goes for educators and education staff, their quality must be improved where the Provincial and Regency Governments have an obligation to do so," explained Filep in detail.

At the end of his explanation, the STIH Manokwari academic asked for the commitment of the Central Government, the Provincial Government and the Regency Government, to advance education as the spirit of Papua's Special Autonomy.

"For years under the auspices of the Republic of Indonesia, why are Papua's problems always the same? If not education then health. If these two things are being addressed, it will be the turn of discrimination and conflict based on human rights to become a problem. So please be serious. The referendum, which is a sign of OAP joining the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, should provide an answer why OAP has only been like this until now," concluded Filep Wamafma. (*)