President Jokowi Answers Question from Students on How to Develop Papua

President Jokowi meets with a number of students at Padaido Ballroom, Swiss-Belhotel, Biak Numfor regency, Papua province, Wednesday (11/22). (Photo by: BPMI/Rusman)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with a number of elementary school and junior high school students at the Padaido Ballroom, Swiss-Belhotel, Biak Numfor regency, Papua province, on Wednesday (11/22).

During the meeting, the President held a question and answer session with the students and one of them asked about how to develop Papua.

“I want to ask, if I want to develop Papua, where should I start?” asked Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena, a student at 2 Sorong City State Elementary School to the President.

Yosohua’s question managed to amaze President Jokowi. The President answered that the students have a duty to study hard then they will be able to develop Papua.

“Where to start? Starting from studying and learn everything. A student’s job is to study, starting from there. If you study hard, you will be smart and able to build Papua,” the President answered.

On that occasion, the students also learned on a quick calculation method to learn math called gasing (gampang, asyik, menyenangkan – easy, fun and enjoyable method). President Jokowi expressed appreciation to Professor Yohanes Surya who had initiated and spread the method.

“I thank Professor Yohanes who has spread the gasing method to the students, not only in Papua but throughout Indonesia,” President Jokowi said.

Specifically in Papua, the President expressed hope that the gasing method can also be learned by all students in all regencies/cities.

“We hope that in the future, this method will not only be in one, two, three districts, but throughout Papua, everyone will be able to learn to count quickly,” he added.

Professor Yohanes also said that to date 19 regencies/cities in Papua have been taught the gasing method. He said that during the quick counting exercise, he considered the Papuan children to be very smart.

“There is hope, Mr. President. So we are targeting that all Papuan students will have good skill at arithmetic. We are targeting completion by August next year, Sir,” he continued.

President Jokowi also raised a number of math questions to the children. Aquilla Mayotag Loji, a student at Yapis Junior High School in Biak Numfor regency was enthusiastic to answer the questions from the President. (BPMI/AIT) (EST/LW)