Read more books, says Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto proclaimed Book Month
\nyesterday, calling on citizens to intensify their reading habits
\nand to make Indonesia into a society that loves learning.<\/p>\n
\"Nurturing the reading habit is the most important
\ncharacteristic of a society that loves learning,\" Soeharto said
\nin his address marking National Education Day in the West
\nKalimantan capital of Pontianak.<\/p>\n
In the ceremony, which was attended by numerous top officials,
\nthe President said that only through education would the nation
\nbe able to compete with other nations.<\/p>\n
The habit of reading, the President said, should be nurtured
\nin the family where parents instill other values in their
\nchildren, such as those of religion.<\/p>\n
Parents should encourage reading activities and make books
\n\"good friends\" of the family, reading them during their leisure
\ntime. \"Start a new tradition of offering books as presents on
\nfriends' and relatives' special occasions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Women<\/p>\n
The President reiterated the importance of women's role in
\neducation, particularly in the family. He stressed that all girls
\nunder 15 should attend school.<\/p>\n
\"Women should get top priority in education because they play
\na key role in shaping the future generation,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
To help develop the reading habit among the people, there
\nshould be libraries in every neighborhood and workplace, Soeharto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He promised that the government would support the development
\nof the book industry by making books more affordable in order to
\nhelp create a society that loves learning.<\/p>\n
Critics have said that books are expensive for the majority of
\nIndonesians. Publishers claimed recently that the numerous taxes
\nto which they are subject are to blame for the high prices of
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
The Book Month agenda consists of activities aimed at
\nencouraging people to improve their reading habits, including
\nbook exhibitions, writing contests, and the first National
\nCongress on Books.<\/p>\n
The President appealed to parents, community leaders, authors,
\npublishers, bookstore owners, editors of printed and electronic
\nmass media, ulemas and other religious figures, as well as
\nleaders of mass and socio-political organizations, to contribute
\nto the success of the campaign.<\/p>\n
Awards<\/p>\n
The president also presented Widya Krama awards to nine
\nmayoralties and regencies for their success in supporting the
\nnine-year compulsory education program that started last year.<\/p>\n
The recipients are the East Jakarta mayoralty, Yogyakarta,
\nSukabumi in West Java, Tapanuli Utara in North Sumatra, Minahasa
\nin North Sulawesi, Agam in West Sumatra, Purworejo in Central
\nJava, Blitar in East Java and Badung in Bali.<\/p>\n
The president said the best achievement of the country during
\nits 50 years of independence was in the education sector.<\/p>\n
He said that nine out of 10 Indonesians were illiterate in the
\nearly years of the country's independence in the 1940s. He said
\nthat last year, by contrast, only about six million Indonesians
\nof working age were illiterate.(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/read-more-books-says-soeharto-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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