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