Indonesia in Literacy Emergency, Deputy Speaker of MPR Stresses Multi-Party Collaboration

MPR member Lestari Moerdijat (Rerie) has urged an increase in the role of regional governments within a multi-party collaboration framework to build literacy skills and develop a reading culture across the country. “Literacy improvement programmes must not operate in silos. Central government efforts must be supported by regional governments and the community,” Rerie stated on Friday (19/6/2026). She added that synergy among relevant parties must be strengthened with concrete action.

Rerie argued that the fundamental literacy problem in Indonesia is not simply a lack of interest in reading. Massive support is needed to build a healthy reading ecosystem from an early age. She stressed that the low availability and accessibility of quality reading materials must be addressed immediately through tangible steps, urging that library services should reach down to the village level.

Rerie expressed her hope that libraries could become community activity centres, not merely book storage facilities. She also insisted that education agencies must integrate literacy development teaching into both the curriculum and extracurricular activities at educational institutions. “This is the momentum to act. The nation needs an intelligent generation with character, and that begins with literacy skills,” she said.

Previously, the Head of the National Library of Indonesia, E Aminudin, during a book review event on Thursday (18/6), emphasised that regional governments hold a strategic role as the spearhead in efforts to improve public literacy. He noted that the development of literacy skills and reading culture fundamentally takes place at the regional level. The National Library recorded that the national Community Literacy Development Index in March 2026 stood at 40.6, falling into the low category, while the National Reading Interest Index was recorded at 54.80, classified as medium.