JAYAPURA – A total of 12 schools under the supervision of the Papua Provincial Government remain highly favored by students, according to Laorens Wantik, Head of the Special Education Division at the Papua Provincial Education Office.

Laorens explained that despite the presence of tuition fees, student interest remains strong.

“Whether there's a tuition fee or not, the demand is still high because schools managed by the Papua Provincial Government are nearing good accreditation status and offer hope for students. So, even with fees, it doesn't affect their popularity,” said Laorens.

He added that these schools continue to attract students not only due to academic instruction but also due to their emphasis on student development and quality assurance systems, as seen at SMAN 3, which guarantees educational quality.

“When there's a quality assurance system, it inevitably involves funding. That's why the tuition fee still applies—for instance, Smankor (Sports School) is known for its high-quality training,” he explained.

However, in the digital era, quality schools are no longer the only institutions producing knowledge. Students can now access learning anytime and anywhere.

“Therefore, educational institutions today function more as transitional spaces and growth environments,” he concluded. ***