Most schools without libraries

Most schools without libraries

JAKARTA: Only 5 percent of about 300,000 elementary and high
schools in Indonesia have a library, indicating that reading
habit among students is still low.

Idris Kamah, the deputy chief of the National Library
Development, called on the government to put aside a small
portion of the annual state budget to develop libraries in
schools.

"If the government can develop facilities for libraries, we
will seek books from numerous donors and provide staff to manage
the libraries," he said in observance of National Library Day and
National Awakening Day here on Tuesday.

Idris said that without libraries, students would not be able
to develop a reading habit and their knowledge and quality of
education would remain low.

He also called on villages to take the initiative in building
their own libraries or reading facilities to encourage students
and school-aged children and youths and to foster their desire to
learn.

Rizal Sikumbang, the chairman of the Bina Anak Indonesia
Foundation, called on the government to require housing
development companies to develop library facilities in housing
projects. -- Antara