PNG students study Indonesian in Jayapura

Dozens of Papua New Guinean students are visiting Jayapura, the capital of the Indonesian province of Papua, to study Indonesian.

The students are from several schools at the University of Papua New Guinea, and are visiting Jayapura’s Cenderawasih University, among other places, Papua administration official Elly Loupatty said in Jayapura on Monday.

“They like learning Indonesian, and they chose Papua to further learn the language, as part of their studies,” Elly said as quoted by Antara.

“They will visit Cenderawasih University to study. They’ve asked about a lot of things — about education here from elementary school to high school and higher education, as well as about Papuan students’ views on Indonesia,” he added.

Elly said the Papua New Guinean students would be in Jayapura until Nov. 23.

He added the Papua administration welcomed them, as the visit would hopefully strengthen ties between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Papua Education, Youth and Sports Agency chief James Modouw, meanwhile, said the Indonesian study program was part of a long-established education partnership between the governments of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.