Language Agency and UHO Collaborate to Boost Student Literacy in Southeast Sulawesi

Kendari (ANTARA) - The Language Development and Cultivation Agency (Badan Bahasa) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is collaborating with Halu Oleo University (UHO) in Kendari to improve literacy and proficiency in the Indonesian language for students in Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

The Head of the Language Development and Cultivation Agency, Kemendikdasmen, Hafidz Muksin, in Kendari on Thursday, stated that this collaboration is a strategic step to equip the younger generation with proficient language skills through mentoring programmes and competency standardisation.

“Badan Bahasa and Universitas Halu Oleo already have a cooperation agreement (PKS). One of its scopes is enhancing literacy, proficiency in the Indonesian language, and improving students’ abilities in language learning,” he said after delivering a public lecture at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UHO Kendari.

He described the opportunity to give the public lecture to the Indonesian Language and Literature Department of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UHO as extraordinary in providing reinforcement for the younger generation.

“Because we all know that the use of Indonesian among the younger generation is starting to fade. Many of them use slang, slang languages, prokem in formal activities,” he said.

He also emphasised that students in the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Programme at UHO are now required to have a Certificate of Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI) with a minimum rating of “Excellent”.

“This certificate will later become one of the graduation requirements for students in the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Programme,” he said.

A lecturer from FKIP UHO, Irianto Ibrahim, expressed that the presence of the top leader of Badan Bahasa provides great motivation for students in understanding the importance of literacy and language proficiency.

He conveyed the high interest of students, evident from the overflowing number of participants during the public lecture session.

Although the room capacity was limited to 200 people for the 2024 and 2025 batches, the students remained enthusiastic in following the event until the end.

“This is an extraordinary moment for us. The students are very enthusiastic because they realise the importance of strengthening language and literature in supporting their careers and roles as language ambassadors in the future,” said Irianto Ibrahim.