Sorong, Jubi – A coalition of students under the Sorong Raya Student Solidarity banner in Southwest Papua staged a long march to the governor’s office on Monday (May 4, 2026), protesting against the government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

The demonstration coincided with the commemoration of National Education Day, marked annually on May 2.

The protest brought together several student groups, including the Student Executive Board of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong (UNAMIN), the Forum Independent Mahasiswa West Papua (FIM-WP), the Mare Student and Youth Association of Sorong Raya (IPPMMSR), and the Papua Berpikir Reading Community (KLBPB).

Marchers set off from the UNAMIN Sorong campus, moving along the city’s main thoroughfares toward Taman Deo before gathering at the Southwest Papua Governor’s Office.

During the rally, participants displayed banners rejecting the MBG initiative while calling for free education, accompanied by a series of speeches.

Student representative Aslan Wajo said the MBG program fails to tackle the underlying challenges facing the education sector in Southwest Papua.

“We reject MBG if it comes at the expense of the education budget. Don’t shift the focus. Education is a fundamental right, not a side project,” Wajo said.

Students argued that the MBG program could potentially divert funds from the education sector, which they believe should be prioritized to expand access, improve infrastructure, and raise overall education standards in the region—areas they say remain inadequate.

Protest coordinator Paulus Buto said the government appears to have deviated from its constitutional mandate, pointing to the 1945 Constitution’s commitment to “educating the life of the nation.”

“Today, we see the state blurring its priorities. Education must not be sacrificed for populist programs,” Buto said.

Beyond opposing the MBG program, the students also demanded the full rollout of free education at all levels—from kindergarten to university—particularly for Indigenous Papuan students in Southwest Papua who continue to face economic and access challenges.

They further called for any education funds they believe have been redirected to the MBG initiative to be returned to the sector, including for improving the welfare of honorary teachers, whom they say have long been overlooked.

“We see a pattern of neglect that continues year after year. Every National Education Day is commemorated, yet education problems in Southwest Papua are never truly resolved. If these demands are not addressed, we will return with a larger mass. This is not a threat—it is a warning,” he said.

The students reminded policymakers not to mask failures in the education sector with the MBG program, emphasizing that what is truly needed are proper school facilities, well-paid teachers, and affordable education.

Among their demands, they called on the Governor of Southwest Papua to reallocate the MBG budget toward free education across the region, to establish a public university in the province to ensure equal access, to distribute Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds to underprivileged Indigenous Papuan students each semester, and to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and audit of education budgets and institutions.

Responding to the protest, Southwest Papua Deputy Governor Ahmad Nasrau stated that the government is no longer allocating funds to programs deemed to have no direct impact on the public, such as official travel.

“Funds are now directly channeled to the community for MSMEs, education, healthcare, and contract teachers, especially for Indigenous Papuans,” Nasrau said.

He added that the distribution mechanism for Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds has been revised, with 80 percent now channeled directly from the central government to regencies and municipalities, while the provincial administration manages the remaining 20 percent.

Responding to calls for the establishment of a state university in Southwest Papua, Nasrau said the proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education and is currently undergoing review.

“The process is not instant—it requires time and study. But it is already underway, not something that just started today,” he said.

Nasrau acknowledged the province’s fiscal limitations, noting that the 2026 regional budget stands at Rp1.08 trillion, with nearly half absorbed by personnel and operational costs.

He added that, as a newly established autonomous region, Southwest Papua is also grappling with the need to build basic government infrastructure, which consumes a significant share of its budget.

Despite these constraints, he stressed that education and healthcare continue to be prioritized by the provincial government.

“We have already initiated free education programs for elementary, junior high, and senior high/vocational schools. For higher education, we admit it is not yet optimal due to budget limitations,” he said.

He added that education assistance is no longer provided directly to students in order to avoid legal issues, and is instead distributed through educational institutions to ensure greater accountability and transparency.

Addressing criticism of the MBG program, Nasrau said it is a national policy intended to directly meet community needs, while emphasizing that the provincial government remains open to feedback and views student input as an important part of its evaluation process.

Governor Elisa Kambu also reiterated that education and healthcare remain key priorities, although their implementation must be carried out gradually due to limited resources.

“The demand to reallocate the MBG budget must be understood in the context of it being a national program that regions are obligated to support. However, we ensure that it will not come at the expense of education,” Kambu said.

She added that the provincial government is open to dialogue with students to find solutions based on data and the region’s actual capacity.

“The MBG program is a good initiative. It is a presidential program aimed at ensuring children receive nutritious meals. It also creates jobs and helps reduce unemployment,” she said. (*)