
The head of Monitoring and Controlling Division of Papua Regional Planning Body, Edison Howay (Jubi/Frans Kobun)
Merauke, Jubi- The head of Monitoring and Controlling Division of Papua Regional Planning Body, Edison Howay said illiteracy rates in two regencies in the southern Papua are at about 60 percent.
It is the responsibility of both regional and provincial governments to address the problem, he said.
Besides the illiteracy rate, other issues found among communities include high rates of infant and maternal death, interrupted education because teachers were often not at school, and low income in particular among indigenous Papuans.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said in his speech delivered by First Assistant of Merauke Regional Secretary, Agustinus Djoko Guritna, he hoped all related stakeholders could contribute ideas for sustainable development in the villages. “We should admit the development without good planning will not be optimal,” he said. (Frans L Kobun/Albert Yomo/rom)