Jakarta, Kompas (27/12/07): There are still many illiterates among Indonesians in their productive age group. A survey carried out by the National Statistic Agency (BPS) and the National Education Ministry, revealed there are 18.1 million illiterate people in Indonesia. Around 4.35 million of them are in their productive age (15-44 years-old).

There are 13.4 million illiterates among those above 45 years-old. Meanwhile among 10-14 age group, there are 336,785 illiterates. “70% of the illiterate persons are female,” Sujarwo Singowidjojo, Diretor of Community Education at the National Education Ministry, said in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/12).

According to Sujarwo, efforts to curb illiteracy should be integrated in the economic empowerment programs. With this approach, illiterates from lower income brackets are expected to be able to improve their welfare aside from learning how to read, write and count.

The main problem hampering illiteracy eradication in Indonesia, according to Sujarwo, is the economical factor. In fact, the targets of illiteracy eradication programs are willing to learn but they have no time because they have to work to earn income for their families. Another problem is age, because many of them think that they no longer need to learn. 

After President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched the Illiteracy Eradication Acceleration in 2004, the fund allocation for this program in the state annual budget (APBN) has increased significantly, from Rp 80 billion in 2004 to Rp567 billion in 2007.

Most of the fund is focused on teaching them to read, write and count. The government is set to reduce the number of illiterate people by 50% to around 9 million in 2009.

Dessy Sekar Astina, Program Director of the Indonesia Membaca Forum, said that the literacy rate could be increased with the provision of reading materials which correspond to what the people need. We need to develop libraries and reading corners. (ELN)