Regents awarded for illiteracy eradication

Regents awarded for illiteracy eradication

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Buton Regent Syafie Kahar and
Muna Regent Ridwan of Southeast Sulawesi have received
international awards for their meritorious struggle to eradicate
illiteracy in their regions.

Chief Rahimin Kantjong of the local Southeast Sulawesi
education office said on Thursday that the two regents were
awarded for their dedication to reducing illiteracy. Both had
included an illiteracy eradication program in their regency
budgets, a condition required to obtain the awards, he explained
further.

"They have contributed much to eradicate illiteracy through
the development of informal educational programs during their
tenures," he said.

The awards were presented by President Megawati Soekarnoputri
last week.

Southeast Sulawesi has 59,839 illiterate people aged between
ten and 44 years. The highest illiteracy rate is in Buton regency
and Baubau mayoralty with a total of almost 40,000 illiterates.
--Antara