Ilustration (IST)
Timika, 16/6 (Jubi) – The Institute for Community Empowerment Amungme Kamoro (LPMAK) will not grant scholarships to Timika graduates this year due to a lack of funds.
LPMAK Education Bureau said students who graduated from Timika’s schools this year will not get scholarships because of financial difficulties after funder Freeport Indonesia reduced funding as exports are suspended due to the Law on Mineral and Coal Mining.
“If Freeport is normal, scholarships will be back to normal. If the law has been approved, it will go back to normal,” Titus Kemong, bureau of education of LPMAK, in Timika on Sunday (15/6).
“So, the reduction is a result of the mining law. So this year there will be no scholarships. While the students including senior high school students who just graduated from Manado and Semarang are still funded. The funds are only given to dozens of prospective students who take courses outside the Mimika,” he added.
About 15 to 30 people graduated from high school in Semarang and Manado, while this program can only be run for one year.
The applicants have to wait until the legislation has been reviewed.
One of the residents of Timika, Margaretha hopes that educational institutions will continue to fund the students who are pursuing their degree in other areas.
“Scholarship or student aid is very important. If only because of the socio-political economic factors, it must be resolved by the government, so that it will not give huge impact,” she added. (Jubi / Eveerth/ Tina)
