Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Three senior high school students from Papua province have secured Prasetiya Mulya University's scholarship award after beating 37 other applicants in a selection process, which was held recently in Jayapura city.

The selection of the prestigious private university's scholarship recipients was done by a board of examiners from the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command.

The three students are Alfons Murib, James Rumpaidus, and Hendrik Dimara, assistant for territorial affairs at the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Colonel Muhammad Albar, said here on Monday.

Murib is a student of Asisi Sentani YPPK Senior High School, Jayapura district, while Rumpaidus studied at Public Senior High School (SMAN 5), and Dimara at SMAN 4, both in Jayapura city.

Albar said Murib, Rumpaidus, and Dimara were selected by the university after passing academic, psychological, and civics tests given by the board of examiners to all applicants.

Murib and Dimara will pursue a bachelor's degree in international business law while Rumpaidus will pursue a bachelor's degree in international events management, he said.

The university will cover their study and living costs during their undergraduate study period, he said, adding that they will leave for Jakarta on Tuesday (July 25, 2023).

Acting secretary of the Jayapura city government, Robby Awi, lauded the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command's selection process that has enabled three Papuan teenagers to study at Prasetiya Mulya University.

"This program has indeed assisted the efforts of the Jayapura city and district governments as well as Papua administration to create a smart generation of young Papuans," he said.

Awi appealed to Murib, Rumpaidus, and Dimara to study hard.

ANTARA reported earlier that Papua is still struggling to improve the quality of its human capital, as evidenced by its score on Indonesia's Human Development Index, which has tended to remain below the national average.

Referring to the 2020 Human Development Index, for instance, the national average was recorded at 71.94, while Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed that Papua scored 60.44 on the index. The score was lower than Aceh province, which chalked up 71.94.

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Translator: Ardiles L, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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