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)