Illiteracy 'reflects backwardness'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Illiteracy is a symbol of ignorance and poverty,
\nPresident B.J. Habibie said on Saturday in a speech to mark the
\n33rd International Illiteracy Day at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
\"Illiteracy is not merely a technical problem in one's life,
\nit also touches the deepest elements, as it is a symbol of
\nignorance, poverty and backwardness,\" the President noted.<\/p>\n
In his report to the President, Minister of Education and
\nCulture Juwono Sudarsono said there were still at least 6.9
\nmillion illiterate people in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Despite an earlier target to eradicate illiteracy in the
\ncountry by 2003, the figures are expected to increase given the
\ncrisis. \"Currently about 6 percent of school-age children are
\nunable to attend school while 18 percent have dropped out,\" the
\nminister reported.<\/p>\n
Habibie pledged the government would do everything to ensure
\nthat all school children would be able to continue their studies,
\nalthough he acknowledged their living conditions were worsening.<\/p>\n
\"Poverty and life's misfortunes must not make children lose
\ntheir interest in learning. We must convince children that only
\nby having an education can they change their luck,\" the President
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Literacy Day officially fell on Sept. 8, but it was
\ncelebrated Saturday to fit in with the President's packed
\nschedule.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by about 100 invitees including
\nUnited Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
\n(UNESCO) director general Federico Mayor.<\/p>\n
According to Habibie, the government has taken several drastic
\nmeasures to reduce the impacts of the recession on education,
\nincluding allocating special funds to help millions of needy
\nstudents, teachers and even schools.<\/p>\n
\"School children are even allowed to go to school without
\nwearing their uniforms, as previously required,\" he said with a
\nsmile.<\/p>\n
In June, Juwono disclosed that 30 percent of elementary to
\nhigh school children across the country had dropped out of school
\nsince the beginning of the crisis last July.<\/p>\n
In an effort to maintain the national nine-year compulsory
\neducation scheme, the government has decided to provide annual
\nscholarships worth Rp 120,000 (US$9) each to 4 percent of the
\ncountry's 29 million primary school pupils, and Rp 240,000 for
\n16.1 percent of the 9.6 million junior high school students.<\/p>\n
The government will also annually allocate 69,300 primary
\nschools Rp 2 million each to go toward their operational costs.
\nThis is 40 percent of government primary schools considered the
\nmost needy.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, 30,391 junior high schools will receive Rp 4
\nmillion each in aid. These make up 40 percent of all junior high
\nschools in the country.<\/p>\n
The government, however, is still unable to provide financial
\nassistance to the country's five million senior high school
\nstudents and the 185,000 university students.<\/p>\n
The President also presented the Aksara (Literacy) Award to 10
\ncompanies, including Nike footwear producer and PT Kayu Lapis
\nIndonesia, for their leading roles in reducing the rate of
\nilliteracy among low-educated workers.<\/p>\n
\"I am very proud to receive this award and we will do more for
\nour workers' education,\" Nike's country manager Tony Nava said.<\/p>\n
The Nike management said it would encourage its workers of
\nabout 18 years old who, for instance, dropped out of school after
\nelementary school, to continue their education.<\/p>\n
According to Nava, about 600 Nike workers from three
\nfactories, including PT Karet Murni Kencana (KMK) and PT Pou Chen
\nIndonesia in Tangerang and Serang, West Java, attend special
\nclasses for undereducated workers after office hours.<\/p>\n
\"We cover all costs, and we even provide some incentives for
\nthe workers,\" said KMK's C.K. Song. (prb)<\/p>",
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