Jakarta. The Finance Ministry will take over unpaid scholarship obligations for dozens of Papuan students studying abroad, after President Prabowo Subianto instructed the central government to resolve the long-running issue, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Thursday.

Speaking at a hearing with House Commission XI, Purbaya confirmed that the ministry’s Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) will assume responsibility for Rp 37 billion ($2.2 million) in arrears affecting 56 students. The financial burden will no longer fall on the Papua and Papua Pegunungan provincial governments, which had been responsible for funding the scholarships.

“I was instructed by the President to resolve the arrears for Papuan students. I have committed to settling them, and LPDP will handle the matter,” Purbaya said at the parliament complex in Senayan.

He added that the process will be carried out by Sudarto, the acting president director of LPDP. However, the ministry is still awaiting further coordination from Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.

Earlier, Tito revealed that 56 Papuan students enrolled in overseas universities had yet to receive their scholarship payments due to delays and non-payment by their regional governments.

To prevent recurring problems, Tito proposed transferring the remaining scholarship funding to the central government through LPDP, a recommendation President Prabowo has approved. Tito said all student data will be handed over to Finance Minister Purbaya and Foreign Minister Sugiono to finalize the takeover process.