Dialogue with Papuan Students at Ballroom Padaido Swiss-Belhotel, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province, November 22, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Good evening everyone.

Para Pelajar SD dan SMP Papua
Good evening.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Jou subah.

Para Pelajar SD dan SMP Papua
Subah jou.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I was here tonight in Biak regency with Minister of State Secretary Professor Pratikno, Minister of Home Affairs Professor Tito Karnavian, and Minister of Investment who is from Papua, from Fakfak, is that correct? Yes, it is. Do any of you want to become minister?

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Johanes who has continued to expand “Gasing” learning method to children not only in Papua, but also throughout Indonesia. And also thanks to all the regional heads, Forkompinda, all the teachers who have guided the children so that we hope that in the future “Gasing” method will not only be in 1, 2, 3 districts but throughout Papua. Everyone will be able to learn to count quickly. You enjoy counting, right?

Students of Papua
Yes.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Can I test? 27 plus 78? Wait a minute, okay, 105, right. Once again. Who wants to answer? Who wants to be asked, raise your hand? The one who raises hand and gets the correct answer, I’ll give you bicycle.

Students of Papua
Me, me, me!

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
When rewarded a bicycle, everyone raises their hands. Wait a minute. Yes, you. What’s your name?

Aquilla Mayotag Loji
Aquilla Mayotag Loji

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Aquilla Mayotag Loji. How do I call you?

Aquilla Mayotag Loji
Aquilla.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Aquilla, 458 plus 289?

Aquilla Mayotag Loji
837.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I gave you a bicycle. The answer is 837, that’s right, where’s the bike? Yes. That’s it.

This is quite a difficult question, multiplication. Previously, we did addition, now multiplication. Anyone want to try? 51 times 12?

Students of Papua
Me, me!

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Please sit down, I will choose.

Vanita Tenoye
612.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Wait a minute. What’s your name?

Vanita Tenoye
Vanita Tenoye.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Vanita Tenoye. I repeat, 51 times 12?

Vanita Tenoye
612.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
612. Do you want a bicycle?

Students of Papua
Yes, I do.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Ok, no more bicycle. Anyone wants to raise a question?

Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena
My name is Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yosuhua.

Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena
I am from Sorong city, Southwest Papua.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Sorong city, Southwest Papua.

Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena
I would like to ask, if I want to build Papua, where do I start?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
If Yosohua wants to develop Papua, where should he start? The question is difficult. Starting from where? Starting from studying. If children study hard, you will be smart and you can build Papua together. Agree?

Yosohua Amsal Maniani Kena
Agree, thank you.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Ok, Yosohua. You are very smart, such a difficult question. I’ll give you a bicycle but I don’t have it here. I will send it to you.

Herry Ario Naap
My name is Herry Ario Naap from Biak, Papua. I would like to ask, in your opinion, is mathematics difficult?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
When I was in elementary school, I really enjoyed mathematics. If you ask now, I don’t know whether I can do it anymore.

Vanita Tenoye
Good evening, my name is Vanita Tenoye from Nabire, Central Papua.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Nabire, Central Papua. Is it far from here?

Vanita Tenoye
Far.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Far.

Vanita Tenoye
I would like to ask, how can my friends in Nabire be good at Gasing Mathematics like me.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
They should study Gasing like Vanita. Everyone must learn to count using the Gasing method so that you can answer a question like the ones from me. Ask you friends so that they will learn to count using the Gasing method. Are you happy about learning using the Gasing method?

Okay everyone, that’s all. It’s late already, you are going to school tomorrow, right? Well, study hard. If you are good at counting, you can be like Billy Mambrasar. Billy, where are you from?

Billy Mambrasar
Biak, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Biak ethnic, born in the land of Serui. Billy Mambrasar is now a Presidential special staff.  What was your elementary school?

Billy Mambrasar
Number 1 Serui State Elementary School.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
In Serui? Then the junior high school?

Billy Mambrasar
Number 1 Serui Junior High School.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
High school?

Billy Mambrasar
Number 3 Jayapura State High School.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Number 3 Jayapura State High School. Then university?

Billy Mambrasar
Bandung Technology Institute.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bandung Technology Institute. The Master’s Degree?

Billy Mambrasar
I have three master’s degrees.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Three?

Billy Mambrasar
Yes. All scholarships.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All scholarships?

Billy Mambrasar
At Australia University.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Then?

Billy Mambrasar
At Harvard University.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Harvard University in the US.

Billy Mambrasar
At Oxford England still ongoing.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
At Oxford England.

Billy Mambrasar
And now I am pursuing doctoral degree in University of Pennsylvania.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Doctoral degree in University of Pennsylvania. Who wants to be like Billy Mambrasar? Study hard. Thank you, Billy.

Billy Mambrasar
You’re welcome, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Is there anyone who wants to be like Minister of Investment? Who wants to be Minister of Investment?

Thank you all. Study hard but do not forget to stay active physically and keep praying.

Thank you, good evening.

(EST/LW)