Literacy reflects on culture: Try

Literacy reflects on culture: Try

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno said a nation's
sophistication is often judged by the number of books written,
published and read, and in these respects Indonesia is still very
backward.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Gadjah Mada University
campus here yesterday to commemorate National Education Day, Try
said: "The quantity and variety of the books written, translated,
published, bought and read in our society is still inadequate.

"In this respect, we have to work harder," he said, adding
that the inadequacy was even more pronounced when the number of
magazines and newspapers produced was taken into account.

Try took President Soeharto's place yesterday in leading the
commemoration. Soeharto is suspending this week's state
activities in respect of the death of First Lady Tien Suharto on
Sunday.

Also attending yesterday's ceremony were Minister of Education
and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave, and Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Azwar Anas.

National Education Day falls on the birth date of Ki Hajar
Dewantara who founded the nationalistic Taman Siswa educational
organization in the 1920s.

Libraries

Try lamented the fact that private and state libraries are
still rarely utilized and often a less-than-popular place to
visit.

"We still don't fully use libraries as a means of enhancing
the nation's wisdom," he remarked.

He said that this is one of the reasons why the government
holds a National Book Month, which is aimed at "increasing the
general public's consciousness and appreciation of the importance
of books."

Try also marked yesterday's celebration by launching the 1996
National Book Month, and donating 27,000 books for various less-
developed villages across the country.

On the significance of education, Try underlined the growing
link between the scholastic and economic fields. He said that the
nation should aim for a situation where the knowledge and skill
acquired by everyone will allow them to create their own
vocations.

Given the increasing international competition, knowledge and
skills have to be continuously honed and developed, he said.

"We have to develop our society into one which aspires to
scholarly pursuits and invention," Try said.

In an attempt to boost the national education level, in 1994
the government extended the compulsory basic education program
from six-years to nine-years.

Yogyakarta was chosen as the site of this year's National
Education Day celebration because of, among other things, the
province's success in implementing the compulsory education
program.

According to Try, parents throughout the country have
responded positively to the program.

"This shows that our nation is ready to enter the 21st Century
which will be dominated by ever-increasing competition."

He explained that in the coming era of free trade, labor will
also become an important commodity which will transcend national
borders.

He stressed that only the most qualified manpower will be able
to survive in such a competitive environment and thus the nation
must hone its skills to anticipate this era.

Unskilled laborers will in the end lose out even in their own
country, Try warned. (har/02/mds)