This year the West Papua Regional Police-KRK Foundation helped hundreds of out-of-school children return to school. This action is the contribution of the West Papua Regional Police in overcoming the high number of children dropping out of school in West Papua.
Previously, in 2022, an Academician from the University of Papua, Professor Agus Sumule, revealed shocking data. Professor Agus said that there were around 68,988 children who dropped out of school in West Papua.
Furthermore, he revealed that economic and environmental factors were the triggers.
“The fact is that currently, there are 68,988 children in West Papua who have dropped out of school. This is due to various family economic backgrounds and environmental influences,” said Agus Sumule on September 17, 2022.
Regarding this shocking data, in the same year, the Head of the West Papua Regional Police, Inspector General Daniel Tahi Monang Silitonga, responded. Inspector General Daniel confesses that he is distressed and concerned that thousands of children are leaving school.
Since the nation’s future is in the younger generation’s hands, Inspector General Daniel stated that the West Papua Regional Police would intervene. Inspector General Daniel emphasized that education is the responsibility of all parties. Therefore, he invited all related parties and the public to increase awareness of this problem.
Inspector General Daniel claims that the West Papua Regional Police would substantially contribute to the effort to address this problem. In addition, his staff members will oversee the use of the West Papua education budget to prevent misuse.
Special Program for Out-of-School Children
In 2023, in accordance with the concerns that Inspector General Daniel previously said, the West Papua Regional Police created a special program for dropout children. In collaboration with the Kasih Rumbai Koteka Foundation (KRK), the West Papua Regional Police provides an out-of-school education program.
According to Kombes Pol Bagiyo Hadi Kurnijanto’s explanation, this program is an effort to overcome the problem of children dropping out of school. With this out-of-school education program, children who drop out of school are expected to receive higher education.
In its implementation, this program will help children who drop out of school to get package A, B, and C certificates. With the increasing number of children who have a school diploma, the West Papua Regional Police hope it will help decrease the unemployment rate in the region.
Inspector Priskila Sangkek conveyed this directly. According to her, this program can slightly reduce the unemployment rate in the regions by providing package A, B, or C certificates.
“Hopefully, when they already have certificates, whether packages A, B, or C, it might reduce unemployment. After getting an education and a skills certificate, they can work in the future,” said Priscilla Sangkek.
Currently, 184 out-of-school students in Sorong have participated in the West Papua Regional Police’s out-of-school education program. Despite this, the West Papua Regional Police anticipated that the total would continue to rise in the years to come.
West Papua Regional Police Keeps Encouraging the Community
The Community Development Unit (BINMAS) of the West Papua Regional Police has supported this program until now. West Papua Regional Police also urges community leaders to enlighten public education seekers. Thus, this program may solve West Papua’s dropout problem.
Summing up, the success of the West Papua Regional Police-KRK Foundation helps hundreds of out-of-school children return to school. The West Papua Regional Police Department continues bringing in more people for this program.
