Jayapura — The Jayapura City Government and Jayapura Regency Government have expressed readiness to continue managing the Siswa Unggul Papua scholarship program starting in 2027, following a policy to transfer its administration from the provincial to district and municipal governments.
The Siswa Unggul Papua scholarship, funded through the Special Autonomy Fund, was initiated by the Papua Provincial Government to support Indigenous Papuan students pursuing higher education both domestically and abroad. Under revisions to the Special Autonomy Law, the program’s management is being shifted to local governments.
Head of the Jayapura City Education Office, Rocky Bebena, said the city is prepared to continue the program, while noting budget considerations.
“In principle, we are ready [to continue managing the scholarship]. However, regional fiscal capacity will determine the scale of funding that can be allocated,” he said in Jayapura on Tuesday (March 31, 2026).
He added that the transition has been discussed during the 2026 Special Autonomy Development Planning Forum (Musrenbang Otsus) with relevant agencies and budget teams. The process is still ongoing to ensure the sustainability of funding.
The Jayapura City Government also plans to re-verify scholarship recipient data to determine the number of beneficiaries and future budget requirements.
Meanwhile, Head of the Jayapura Regency Education Office, Amelia Ondikeleuw, affirmed her administration’s readiness to take over the program.
“We are ready [to continue] managing the scholarship,” she said.
She added that the regency government will conduct data verification and urged students to complete their studies on time, particularly those expected to graduate in 2026.
Chairman of the Papua Special Autonomy Scholarship Recipients’ Parents Forum (FKOM-BOP), John Reba, emphasized the importance of the program for Indigenous Papuans and called for its continuation.
“This scholarship is very good, and the only one in Indonesia that fully covers both living expenses and education costs. There is no other scholarship like it,” he said.
However, he stressed the need for a comprehensive long-term management plan to ensure sustainability, including mapping Papua’s future human resource needs.
The Papua Provincial Government is set to continue funding the scholarship program until the end of 2026, before full responsibility is transferred to district and municipal governments.
