305,000 illiterate in NTB

305,000 illiterate in NTB

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Around 305,000 people in West Nusa
Tenggara are illiterate, according to estimates by a local
official on Friday.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara office for education, youth and
sports affairs Zaini Arony said that the 305,000 illiterates were
in the 10 to 40 age group. The province has a population of
around 3.8 million.

Governor Harun Al Rasyid said he hoped to eliminate illiteracy
within five years.

"For the time being, we are targeting 30,000 people. In coming
years this figure will be doubled and more," he promised.

Zaini said the local government had a six-month program to
teach people reading and writing. The focus of the program was to
provide them with practical knowledge that they could apply
during their daily activities, he said. -- Antara