"The president has ordered the provision of presidential scholarships for the five eastern Indonesian provinces of Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara, starting in early 2017," Luhut remarked while addressing a function marking Archipelagic Day here on Tuesday.
The scholarships will target university graduates who intend to pursue higher education for S2 and S3 degrees in the fields of economy, maritime and fishery engineering, civil engineering, and fish farming, he noted.
He asked East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya and the governors of other eastern Indonesian provinces to select their best students to receive the presidential scholarships.
"By the end of January 2017, we will have started matriculation programs. Although this is still only under discussion, we will implement it," he stressed.
He asked East Nusa Tenggara Province to prepare its best students from now onward to make progress, improve the educational sector, and catch up with other provinces.
The students who receive the scholarships will continue their studies at leading universities at home and abroad, he remarked.
"This is part of the governments focus on the Indonesian people, particularly those living in the eastern parts of Indonesia, not only in the development sector but also in the education field," he said.
When it comes to development, the government continues to build transportation networks and other infrastructure, including border checkpoints and dams, aimed at improving the peoples welfare, he stated.
"The government is paying great attention to the people. So they should not merely criticize but also help develop the nation rather than attempt to corner (the government)," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
