Illiteracy 'reflects backwardness'
Illiteracy 'reflects backwardness'
JAKARTA (JP): Illiteracy is a symbol of ignorance and poverty,
President B.J. Habibie said on Saturday in a speech to mark the
33rd International Illiteracy Day at Merdeka Palace.
"Illiteracy is not merely a technical problem in one's life,
it also touches the deepest elements, as it is a symbol of
ignorance, poverty and backwardness," the President noted.
In his report to the President, Minister of Education and
Culture Juwono Sudarsono said there were still at least 6.9
million illiterate people in Indonesia.
Despite an earlier target to eradicate illiteracy in the
country by 2003, the figures are expected to increase given the
crisis. "Currently about 6 percent of school-age children are
unable to attend school while 18 percent have dropped out," the
minister reported.
Habibie pledged the government would do everything to ensure
that all school children would be able to continue their studies,
although he acknowledged their living conditions were worsening.
"Poverty and life's misfortunes must not make children lose
their interest in learning. We must convince children that only
by having an education can they change their luck," the President
said.
Literacy Day officially fell on Sept. 8, but it was
celebrated Saturday to fit in with the President's packed
schedule.
The ceremony was attended by about 100 invitees including
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) director general Federico Mayor.
According to Habibie, the government has taken several drastic
measures to reduce the impacts of the recession on education,
including allocating special funds to help millions of needy
students, teachers and even schools.
"School children are even allowed to go to school without
wearing their uniforms, as previously required," he said with a
smile.
In June, Juwono disclosed that 30 percent of elementary to
high school children across the country had dropped out of school
since the beginning of the crisis last July.
In an effort to maintain the national nine-year compulsory
education scheme, the government has decided to provide annual
scholarships worth Rp 120,000 (US$9) each to 4 percent of the
country's 29 million primary school pupils, and Rp 240,000 for
16.1 percent of the 9.6 million junior high school students.
The government will also annually allocate 69,300 primary
schools Rp 2 million each to go toward their operational costs.
This is 40 percent of government primary schools considered the
most needy.
Furthermore, 30,391 junior high schools will receive Rp 4
million each in aid. These make up 40 percent of all junior high
schools in the country.
The government, however, is still unable to provide financial
assistance to the country's five million senior high school
students and the 185,000 university students.
The President also presented the Aksara (Literacy) Award to 10
companies, including Nike footwear producer and PT Kayu Lapis
Indonesia, for their leading roles in reducing the rate of
illiteracy among low-educated workers.
"I am very proud to receive this award and we will do more for
our workers' education," Nike's country manager Tony Nava said.
The Nike management said it would encourage its workers of
about 18 years old who, for instance, dropped out of school after
elementary school, to continue their education.
According to Nava, about 600 Nike workers from three
factories, including PT Karet Murni Kencana (KMK) and PT Pou Chen
Indonesia in Tangerang and Serang, West Java, attend special
classes for undereducated workers after office hours.
"We cover all costs, and we even provide some incentives for
the workers," said KMK's C.K. Song. (prb)