7 Pelajar OAP Masuk 3 Universitas Terbaik Amerika

Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Papua tahun ini kembali mengirimkan pelajar terbaiknya ke berbagai universitas di Amerika, Eropa, Australia dan Asia. 

Awal Januari 2021, 7 pelajar Orang Asli Papua (OAP) diberangkatkan ke Amerika Serikat. Mereka diterima di tiga universitas terbaik di negeri Paman Sam itu, yakni Michigan State University, Western Michigan University dan Louisiana State University .

“7 putra-putri asli Papua itu selama ini dibina dan didampingi oleh kami. Nilai mereka sangat baik dan siap menjalani pendidikan di Amerika,” ungkap Direktur Akademi Jakarta International College (JIC), Fransica Laij, disela-sela Pelatihan Manajemen Beasiswa bagi Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS) Badan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia (BPSDM) Papua, di Hotel Morissey, Jakarta.

Ketujuh pelajar tersebut antara lain; Jessica Rumfaker, Michael Saroge, Paleria Waibusi, Raffaela Wanimbo, Ronaldo Krey, Steve Fonataba dan Yulandia Jufuway. Mereka diterima di ketiga universitas karena memiliki nilai akademik yang tinggi dan kemampuan berbahasa inggris, mental yang baik.

“Anak-anak kita ini diterima di ketiga universitas terbaik Amerika dengan potensi-potensi yang luar biasa. Kami sangat bangga karena bidang studi yang mereka ambil sangat bermanfaat bagi Papua di masa depan. Salah satu dari mereka mengambil bidang studi khusus untuk petrolium engineering,”ujarnya bangga.

Dia memproyeksikan dimasa mendatang, Papua menjadi salah satu provinsi di tanah air yang bakal memiliki Sumber Daya Manusia (SDM) terbaik. Hal itu latarbelakangi potensi putra-putri Papua dalam penguasaan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi sangat tinggi.

“Saya optimis, dimasa mendatang Papua miliki SDM yang mumpuni. Karena pendidikan dan pengembangan SDM menjadi prioritas. 10 sampai 20 tahun, anak-anak kita bakal menguasai Iptek. Saya yakin itu,”kata Fransica yang juga lulusan Amerika itu.

“Kita patut beri apresiasi kepada Pemerintah Provinsi Papua karena meski di masa pandemi, program pendidikan dan pengembangan SDM tetap jalan. Gubernur dan Wakil Gubernur Papua luar biasa,”tandasnya.

Sementara itu, Direktur Perekrutan dan Penerimaan Mahasiswa JIC, Patricia Rubena menambahkan selain 7 pelajar tersebut, tahun ini terdapat 38 pelajar yang akan dikirim ke Amerika. Mereka dibagi dalam dua gelombang yakni pada bulan April sebanyak 23 orang dan 15 orang pada Agustus.

Kata Patricia, pelajar Papua yang dibina JIC merupakan putra-putri asli Papua terbaik dan mendapatkan kesempatan kuliah di berbagai universitas ternama di Amerika, Eropa, Australia dan Asia.

“Pelajar yang dibina di JIC disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan Pemprov Papua dengan syarat utama memiliki kemampuan akademik, mental dan bahasa yang baik. Mereka diberikan kesempatan memilih 3 universitas terbaik untuk kuliah di berbagai universitas di dunia,”ungkap Patty panggilan akrabnya.

Sebelumnya, Pejabat Sekretaris Daerah Provinsi Papua, Doren Wakerkwa,SH mengatakan sebanyak 47 pelajar OAP dijadwalkan awal tahun 2021 diberangkatkan ke Amerika untuk kuliah diberbagai perguruan tinggi disana.

47 pelajar OAP itu terdiri dari 45 pelajar untuk program studi S1 (Sarjana) dan S2 (Magister) sebanyak 2 orang. “Mereka merupakan peserta Program Beasiswa Afirmasi Siswa Unggul Papua yang dipersiapkan untuk mengambil pendidikan Sarjana di luar negeri dan telah kuliah online hingga Semester III,”jelas Doren didampingi Kepala BPSDM Papua, Aryoko AF,SP.M.Eng.

The Provincial Government of Papua this year again sent the best students to various universities in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia. 

In early January 2021, 7 Papuan Indigenous students were sent to the United States. They were accepted to three of the best universities in America namely Michigan State University, Western Michigan University and Louisiana State University.

"They have been trained and accompanied by us. Their grades are very good and ready to undergo education in the United States," said Director of the Academy of Jakarta International College (JIC), Fransica Laij, on the sidelines of the Scholarship Management Training for Civil Servants, Human Resources Development Agency of Papua (BPSDM), at Morissey Hotel, Jakarta.

The seven students are namely; Jessica Rumfaker, Michael Saroge, Paleria Waibusi, Raffaela Wanimbo, Ronaldo Krey, Steve Fonataba and Yulandia Jufuway. They are accepted to all three universities because they have high academic scores and good English language skills, mentally.

"Our children are accepted to all three of America's best universities with tremendous potential. We are very proud that the field of study they chose is very beneficial for Papua in the future. One of them took a special field of study for Petroleum Engineering," he said proudly.

He projected in the future, Papua to be one of the provinces in the country that will have the best Human Resources (HR). It is the background of the potential of Papuan children in the mastery of science and technology is very high.

"I am optimistic that in the future Papua will have qualified human resources because education and human resources development are priorities. 10 to 20 years, our children will master science and technology. I'm sure of that," said Fransica, who is also an American graduate.

"We should give appreciation to the Papua Provincial Government because even in the pandemic, education programs and human resources development are still running. The Governor and Deputy Governor of Papua are extraordinary," he said.

Meanwhile, JIC Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, Patricia Rubena added that in addition to the 7 students, this year there are 38 students who will be sent to America. They were divided into two periods in April as many as 23 people and 15 people in August.

Patricia said that the Papuan students who are built by JIC are the best Papuan children and get the opportunity to study at various famous colleges in America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

"Students who are trained in JIC are tailored to the needs of the Papua Provincial Government with the main conditions of having good academic, mental and language skills. They are given the opportunity to choose the 3 best universities to study at various universities in the world," Patty said.

Previously, Acting Regional Secretary of Papua Province, Doren Wakerkwa, SH said as many as 47 Papuan indigenous students scheduled for early 2021 were sent to America to study at various universities there.

The 47 Papuan indigenous students consist of 45 students for undergraduate and 2 for master's programs. "They are participants of the Affirmation Scholarship Program of Papuan Superior Students who are prepared to take Bachelor's education abroad and have been studying online until Semester III," explained Doren accompanied by the Head of Human Resources Development Agency of Papua, Aryoko AF, SP. M.Eng.