President Jokowi Meets with Literacy Campaigners from Various Regions

President Jokowi meets with Literacy Campaigners at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (2/5)

Commemorating the National Education Day on Tuesday (2/5), President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo held a silaturahmi (amicable gathering) with 39 inspiring literacy campaigners who actively tried to increase the reading interests of children and citizens in various regions, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (2/5) afternoon.

President Jokowi is delighted to meet with literacy campaigners who encourage and make our society more intelligent, open-minded by means of reading. “Reading books is an activity that is indeed very much needed by our children in any remote places, including those living in the villages,” President Jokowi said.

For that reason, according to the President, anytime he went to the regions, he gave books to the children. Not only did he give notebooks, but story books as well. Therefore, the President asked the Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy to give books as many as possible to the literacy campaigners.

The President admitted that he is very glad to hear the ways the literacy campaigners distributed reading books, some of whom are via boats, bemos (three-wheeled motorized vehicle), horses, and while selling herbal drinks. “It is very good because it is very needed, not only is it vital when it comes to educational access to our children, but reading books as well,” the President said, adding that he wants to hear about the struggles that many people do not see, which exist in Indonesia.

“I think this is a struggle that must be unveiled. So, not only 1,000 literacy campaigners, this will be multiplied, so that our children will actually have a chance to read,” the President continued.

1,000 Literacy Campaigners

Earlier, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy in his report stated that the number of literacy campaigners in Indonesia is already above 1,000 people, one thousand reading houses. “They are sincerely and voluntarily called to advance this nation through the movement of literacy. They are our partners to help the success of learning programs especially in the field of literacy,” the Minister said. The 39 literacy activists came from various regions, including Tasikmalaya, Buton Island, Wonogiri, Polewali Mandar, Purbalingga and West Manggarai. (FID/JAY/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).