Low Literacy: Education Minister Highlights Inappropriate Learning Processes

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has highlighted that inappropriate teaching and learning processes are one of the causes of the literacy and numeracy gaps found in children at the primary education level. “In the field, we see that not all learning processes, especially those based on the ability to read and write, are delivered appropriately,” said the Mendikdasmen during the launch of the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Programme for Strengthening National Literacy and Numeracy in Jakarta on Thursday. Abdul Mu’ti assessed that often, learning about reading simple texts is limited to merely following what the teacher says. “This is frequently overlooked because reading is not just spelling out after the teacher, but reading is the ability to reason,” he emphasised. In addition, he continued, instilling reading habits in children from an early age also influences their reading competency levels. “Reading habits and reading competency can complement each other; they can start from building the reading habit or from developing reading competency. Both can work together, and this certainly requires reading materials and learning content that stimulate children to enjoy reading,” stated the Professor of Islamic Religious Education at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Therefore, Abdul Mu’ti mentioned that the Language Development and Cultivation Agency (Badan Bahasa) under the Ministry of Education is publishing various attractive books so that children can start to like books. “Book engagement, reading habits, and reading competence form a process that must be instilled from the beginning, and only then do we shape what is called a reading culture or reading culture,” he said. “Everywhere they encounter books, everywhere they can find reading materials. Of course, reading materials do not always have to be in book form; they can be newspapers, magazines, or any reading materials that encourage and stimulate our children to always be close to and accustomed to reading,” stated Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti.