Papuans Become Minority at the Faculty of Medicine Uncen

by Abeth You.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cenderawasih – Supplied

Jayapura,  – Jayapura, Jubi – The enrollment of indigenous Papuan students at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cenderawasih (Uncen) has decreased in recent years, a student leader said.

Non-Papuan students currently dominate the faculty that was initially built to increase the number of indigenous doctors to be placed in remote areas.

“Furthermore, the university is currently implementing the online system for new student recruitment. It makes the opportunity of Papuan students is getting smaller,” Benyamin Lagowan, Chairman of Student Executive Body of the Faculty of Medicine (BEM FK), told Jubi on Wednesday (8/6/2016).

He explained based on data collected by BEM FK in 2016, since 2003 to 2015, the number of students at the Faculty of Medicine iwas 1,968, consisting of 1,035 non-Papuans and 889 Papuans.

“It is not including the number of indigenous students who resigned due to their inability to adapt; change their major study or encounter economic constraints,” he said.

Lagowan explained at the beginning this faculty was prioritized for indigenous Papuans with the percentage of 67:33, but since 2008 the situation has reversed. Even in recruitment in 2012, the percentage of Papuans and non-Papuans reached to 32:68 percent.

“The explosion of students was occurred between 2007 and 2014. It was assumed the number of students at the faculty was averaged 150 students for each year,” he said.

Based on the existing data analysis, Lagowan lamented with the change of policy on the student enrolment at the Faculty of Medicine, because at the beginning, the faculty is aimed to prepare and promote the indigenous Papuans, particularly to fulfill the gap of medical specialists at the outer, remote and farthest areas at Papua Province.

“We are from BEM FK urge the Rector of the University of Cenderawasih to prioritize the indigenous Papuans in student recruitment through SBMPTN program and local selection that would be held in June according to its initial purpose of its establishment, namely to reach percentage of 80 percent for indigenous Papuans and 20 percent for non-Papuans,” he said.

Some times ago, the Rector of the University of Cenderawasih, Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka asserted he have repeatedly confirmed to the protesters that the university authorities would continue to maintain and prioritize the indigenous Papuans. “Moreover in the local selection, we must prioritize the indigenous Papuans, and I have proved it since 2015. The issue is currently being exaggerated like this. The indigenous Papuans becomes the students of Uncen is my priority,” he asserted. (mp/tabloidjubi.com)