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)