`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