Commission X Urges National Library to Align Literacy Targets with Budget Efficiency

The Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Hetifah Sjaifudian, has requested that the National Library (Perpusnas) adjust its literacy improvement targets in light of budget efficiency policies to ensure they are more measurable and remain aligned with the primary goal of community empowerment. “Perpusnas’ planning and budget performance should not only emphasise administrative aspects, but also measurable results and impacts on increasing reading interest, equitable access to knowledge, and community empowerment through literacy,” she said during a Hearing Meeting with the Head of Perpusnas on Thursday. She stressed that Perpusnas must present performance achievements not just administratively, but by adapting its metrics. “When determining measures and targets, do not follow the old Medium-Term Development Plan or Long-Term Development Plan if the budget is continuously being reduced; we must adjust accordingly. Targets must be aligned with our capabilities, because if we agree to achieve something, how much budget must support it? If we use the old development plan measures, they will differ from the library’s measures,” she said. “Perpusnas must strengthen the quality of its planning, oversight, and budgeting by ensuring every programme and activity has measurable, outcome-oriented performance indicators that are aligned with the 2025-2029 Medium-Term Development Plan targets and the national development priorities for 2026,” Hetifah added. Commission X also urged Perpusnas to remain focused on maximising its budget effectively and optimally, particularly for the preservation and digitisation of ancient manuscripts, management of the national collection, and strengthening literacy services for the public. “Perpusnas must determine a targeted and measurable budgeting strategy that is synchronised with regional governments to ensure national literacy targets can be achieved,” she concluded.