Indonesia expands access to 5.5 million quality books to boost children's literacy

Indonesia's government is intensifying efforts to enhance children's literacy by providing access to 5.5 million quality reading books nationwide. This initiative is a key component of President Prabowo Subianto's "Asta Cita" agenda, specifically focusing on strengthening human resource development.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, highlighted that improving literacy and numeracy is crucial for national development. He stressed the importance of fostering a reading habit among children, noting that classroom learning has limitations. "We are doing our best to increase children's reading interest," Mu’ti stated during the launch event in Kudus, Central Java. "Together with partners, including Pura Barutama and PT Mars Akbar Mandiri, we hope this program runs smoothly and benefits Indonesian children."

The program emphasizes a "whole-of-universe" approach, requiring participation from the central and regional governments, businesses, and the community. Mu’ti pointed out that providing quality reading materials is not solely the government's responsibility, encouraging contributions from the private sector and local authorities.

Beyond print books, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikdasmen) offers the "Rumah Pendidikan" platform. This service allows teachers and students to download textbooks and non-textbooks for free in digital, audio, and video formats, further broadening access to quality learning resources.

Hariqo Wibawa Satria, Senior Expert Staff at the Indonesian Government Communication Agency, praised Kemendikdasmen's commitment to inclusive education. He specifically noted the provision of Braille books and audio-visual resources for children with special needs, calling it a vital part of strengthening national literacy. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in expanding access to reading materials to improve the reading and writing skills of students across the country.