MPR states need for strategic steps to enhance national literacy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Lestari Moerdijat, stated that strategic steps are needed by stakeholders to increase national literacy or the reading interest of Indonesian society.

Stakeholders, she said, should utilise the valuable momentum of rising reading interest among Generation Z (Gen Z) to prepare such strategic measures.

“The increase in reading interest among young people must be maximised with various strategic steps to make it sustainable and ultimately able to enhance Indonesian society’s literacy,” said Lestari in her statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

The member of Commission X of the DPR RI highlighted the results of the Jejak Pendapat (Jakpat) survey conducted in the second semester of 2025, which showed that the reading activities of Gen Z (aged 14-29) were higher compared to Millennials (30-45) and Gen X (46-61).

The survey results indicated that Gen Z’s reading activities reached 26%, Millennials at 20%, and Gen X at 18%.

Therefore, to ensure this positive habit has a broad impact, several strategic steps are required.

According to her, these strategic steps include mobilising digital and physical reading communities by facilitating the formation of reading communities that encourage the emergence of organic book discussions and reviews.

Furthermore, schools and universities need to promote assignments that require students not only to read but also to process, critique, and re-present the existing information.

“No less important is the availability of reading materials that are easily accessible to the public through complete physical and digital books in libraries, as well as affordable prices for reading materials,” she said.

With these steps, she said, the momentum of 26% of Gen Z actively reading will not just become a statistical figure.

“But a foundation for creating a stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable national literacy ecosystem,” said Lestari.