Language Agency Strengthens Literacy for 700 Primary and Secondary School Students in East Nusa Tenggara
Head of the Language Development and Fostering Agency (Badan Bahasa), Hafidz Muksin, stated that during the National Book Day event in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, he implemented literacy strengthening for young people tailored to their education levels.
“During yesterday’s event, 700 students from primary to secondary school levels participated. For primary students, we asked them to review books; for junior high, we provided speed reading training; and for senior high, critical reading,” he told Media Indonesia in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (27 May).
He further explained that during the session with senior high students, he shared a story for which the students provided critical responses.
“Their responses were varied. Some felt the story was relatable. I told a story about an elderly woman feeling abandoned and lonely, and they were able to offer critical insights,” Hafidz said.
This year, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology through Badan Bahasa will distribute 200 copies of books to over 1,000 primary schools in East Nusa Tenggara.
“By 2026, East Nusa Tenggara will be prioritised, with over 1,000 primary schools receiving 200 books each. We hope this will aid in improving literacy among our children,” he added.
Badan Bahasa also distributed 5,400 quality reading books to the East Nusa Tenggara Literacy Mothers, who will then distribute them to schools across the province. Additionally, a symbolic external hard drive containing 1,400 digital quality reading titles was handed over to the Literacy Mothers, which will be duplicated onto flash drives and distributed to district and city-level Literacy Mothers.
Separately, Handoko Widagdo, Deputy Director of INOVASI for Education Ecosystem Development and Subnational Management, stated that the INOVASI programme has entered its third phase, focusing on strengthening the competencies of lecturers, teachers, and school principals through integrated training, including mother-tongue transition in early grades, particularly in West Sumba, Nagekeo, North Timor, East Sumba, South Timor, and Ende districts.
“In the first phase, we implemented Early Grade Literacy and Numeracy programmes, reaching schools and teachers while distributing non-text reading materials. The second phase supported emergency curricula during the pandemic, training teachers in Nagekeo to use local materials for students. We will continue supporting East Nusa Tenggara until 2027,” Handoko concluded. (H-2)