`Literacy up, but reading habits poor'

`Literacy up, but reading habits poor'

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Indonesia's success in fighting
illiteracy may have won it international praise, but is being
undermined by the poor reading habit of its people, president
Soeharto said yesterday.

In a speech to mark the International Literacy Day, the
president noted the progress Indonesia has made on this front:

"At independence in 1945, 90 out of 100 people were
illiterate. Fifty years later, we had brought the illiteracy rate
down, and by 1995 only 14 out of 100 people could not read.

"This is recognized by the world as a splendid achievement,"
he said.

"But at the same time, we are concerned about the poor reading
habits of our people. Compared to advanced countries in Asia, our
reading habit are poor. We need to stimulate the reading habits
of our people," he said.

Soeharto said the government has declared May "Book Month" and
September "I Love Reading Month", and now it is up to others to
take advantage of these campaigns.

"You cannot instill reading habits if there isn't any reading
material around," he said, urging the Ministry of Education and
Culture and other government agencies to step up the efforts.

Because of the President's tight schedule, International
Literacy Day, which fell on Sept. 8, was held yesterday. Bogor
was chosen to host this year's commemoration in recognition of
its administration's tireless efforts to bring illiteracy rates
down.

Goals

President Soeharto said that wiping out illiteracy was one of
the goals set out when Indonesia proclaimed its independence: to
build an educated nation.

Besides building schools for children, the Ministry of
Education and Culture has introduced education for illiterate
adults. In 1995, the Armed Forces joined in the endeavor when it
launched the Manunggal Aksara (Oneness Literacy) Operation.

"The ability to read and write is simple, but it is the first
step that takes mankind to enhanced knowledge. With knowledge,
mankind improves life. And through knowledge, mankind develops
culture and civilization," Soeharto said.

The wealth of old manuscripts stored in museums attests to the
importance our ancestors attached to writing, he said.

"I appeal to our scholars and researchers to pay attention to
the efforts to preserve ancient calligraphy left behind by our
ancestors. The writings from the regions, such as Java, Sunda,
Batak, Bali and all the others -- must be kept and preserved so
that they don't disappear. We need to preserve the tradition of
Arab-Malay writings which our society used for centuries for
literature, science and religion."

The President said housewives and mothers have been among
those who benefited from the government's literacy campaign. With
literacy comes cleanliness and sanitation as well as a
realization of the importance of education.

Later during a chat with some of the adults who have benefited
from the government campaign, one woman made everyone laugh when
she said that being literate allows her to know what her husband
is up to now.

"Now my husband can no longer cheat on me," Titin from
Cipinang village in Bogor told the President. "I used to find
letters in my husband's pockets, but I never knew what they were
about because I couldn't read. Now I know, praise be to Allah, no
one can cheat me anymore," she said.

The President also presented the Lontar Utama Nugraha trophies
to Miss Book and Mr. Book, selected by the Reading Society.

Miss Book went to 25-year old Yusmalasari, a chemistry
graduate from the University of Lampung now working for a private
bank. Mr Book went to Ganjar Nugroho, a 20-year old student of
the School of Social and Political Studies at Gadjah Mada
University in Yogyakarta. They will be flown to Frankfurt to
visit an international book fair, and given cash and books.

The President also presented awards to 27 mayors and regency
chiefs and 20 military district chiefs for their role in the
literacy campaign in their respective areas. (21/emb)

Book fair -- Page 2