Read more books, says Soeharto
Read more books, says Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto proclaimed Book Month
yesterday, calling on citizens to intensify their reading habits
and to make Indonesia into a society that loves learning.
"Nurturing the reading habit is the most important
characteristic of a society that loves learning," Soeharto said
in his address marking National Education Day in the West
Kalimantan capital of Pontianak.
In the ceremony, which was attended by numerous top officials,
the President said that only through education would the nation
be able to compete with other nations.
The habit of reading, the President said, should be nurtured
in the family where parents instill other values in their
children, such as those of religion.
Parents should encourage reading activities and make books
"good friends" of the family, reading them during their leisure
time. "Start a new tradition of offering books as presents on
friends' and relatives' special occasions," he said.
Women
The President reiterated the importance of women's role in
education, particularly in the family. He stressed that all girls
under 15 should attend school.
"Women should get top priority in education because they play
a key role in shaping the future generation," the President said.
To help develop the reading habit among the people, there
should be libraries in every neighborhood and workplace, Soeharto
said.
He promised that the government would support the development
of the book industry by making books more affordable in order to
help create a society that loves learning.
Critics have said that books are expensive for the majority of
Indonesians. Publishers claimed recently that the numerous taxes
to which they are subject are to blame for the high prices of
books.
The Book Month agenda consists of activities aimed at
encouraging people to improve their reading habits, including
book exhibitions, writing contests, and the first National
Congress on Books.
The President appealed to parents, community leaders, authors,
publishers, bookstore owners, editors of printed and electronic
mass media, ulemas and other religious figures, as well as
leaders of mass and socio-political organizations, to contribute
to the success of the campaign.
Awards
The president also presented Widya Krama awards to nine
mayoralties and regencies for their success in supporting the
nine-year compulsory education program that started last year.
The recipients are the East Jakarta mayoralty, Yogyakarta,
Sukabumi in West Java, Tapanuli Utara in North Sumatra, Minahasa
in North Sulawesi, Agam in West Sumatra, Purworejo in Central
Java, Blitar in East Java and Badung in Bali.
The president said the best achievement of the country during
its 50 years of independence was in the education sector.
He said that nine out of 10 Indonesians were illiterate in the
early years of the country's independence in the 1940s. He said
that last year, by contrast, only about six million Indonesians
of working age were illiterate.(imn)