Good writers are hard to find: Publisher<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A local publisher is attributing the continued
\nuse of outdated books to the scarcity of good textbook writers.<\/p>\n
\"We have too few people who like to read, and even fewer who
\ncan write,\" said Wahyudi Ruwiyanto, the director of the 78-year-
\nold state-owned Balai Pustaka publishing agency.<\/p>\n
\"We are always head hunting for the best writers,\" he said
\nduring a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
He told members of the Commission IX overseeing education and
\nculture that the majority of text books in use today desperately
\nneed to be updated.<\/p>\n
\"It would be a pity if the young generation, for instance,
\ncould not absorb the knowledge of (prominent physics) professor
\nAchmad Baiquni,\" Wahyudi said.<\/p>\n
Balai Pustaka is regarded as historically important for its
\npublishing of literary classics and for its role in popularizing
\nthe emerging Indonesian language in the early 1930s.<\/p>\n
However, an inefficient management has made it increasingly
\ndependent on the publishing of textbooks from the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture, which is its lifeline.<\/p>\n
Wahyudi also complained that several private publishers often
\n\"peek into Balai Pustaka books,\" and then publish summaries which
\nare sold directly to schools.<\/p>\n
\"Our children then become content to learn the fast way,
\nwithout really understanding,\" Wahyudi said.<\/p>\n
The former head of the National Book Agency, Taya Paembonan,
\nalso wrote last year that most textbooks published by private
\ncompanies were not fit for print.<\/p>\n
\"The Directorate General of Elementary and Secondary Schooling
\n(found) that less than 60 percent of all books published by
\nprivate-owned publishers are fit for (learning purposes),\"
\nPaembonan wrote in his book, which was distributed during
\nyesterday's hearing.<\/p>\n
In \"The Current National Book Problem and Future Challenges\"
\n(Perbukuan Nasional Kini dan Tantangannya pada Masa Mendatang) he
\nreports that a 1991 survey found many textbooks were only copies
\nor an \"assemblage\" of books commissioned by the Ministry.<\/p>\n
Wahyudi acknowledged that Balai Pustaka needs to improve its
\nmanagement and employ more creative talents to enable it to
\ncompete with private-owned publishers which, he said, \"are active
\nin grabbing market potential.\"<\/p>\n
Balai Pustaka published 35.5 million copies in the last 1994-
\n1995 fiscal year. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/good-writers-are-hard-to-find-publisher-1447893297",
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