Indonesian Students' Reading Scores Far Below OECD Average, Here's What Needs Fixing

Indonesian students' reading literacy skills are lagging significantly behind their international peers, according to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The data reveals that 15-year-old Indonesian students scored 359 points in reading, falling far short of the OECD average of 476 points.

Despite this concerning PISA result, Indonesia's national literacy development index (IPLM) saw an increase to 73.52 in 2024, surpassing the target of 71.4. Similarly, the national reading interest index (TKM) reached 72.44 in the same year. These figures suggest a growing engagement with reading materials, though the PISA scores indicate a gap in comprehension and critical evaluation skills.

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To be able to improve the literacy of the younger generation, various supports are needed from various parties, both central, regional, down to village/kelurahan and community levels.

Adela Kanasya Adies, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission X, highlighted the critical link between literacy and the competitiveness of young Indonesians. She stressed that improving literacy requires a concerted effort from national, regional, and local governments, as well as the community. Key areas for improvement include budget allocation, the availability of qualified library personnel, accessible reading materials, and the development of reading communities.

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This distributive inequality shows that national literacy improvement must also target and reach all regional, village/kelurahan, community libraries, and 3T areas.

Indonesia has a substantial number of libraries, with over 219,000 recorded by 2024. However, their distribution is uneven, with Java hosting nearly half of them, while regions like Papua and Maluku have a much smaller share. Adies pointed out that this disparity necessitates a focus on equitable distribution to reach all areas, including remote and underdeveloped regions.

Furthermore, Adies emphasized the need for adequate funding for the National Library to enhance service quality and human resource development. She also noted the importance of professionalizing librarians and fostering a reading culture within the educational system to address the literacy challenges effectively.

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To improve the literacy and quality of human resources of the younger generation, adequate budget support is needed for the National Library. Commission X of the DPR RI continues to be committed to encouraging and striving to meet these adequate budget needs.