THE PUBLIC TEST FOR LITERACY CULTIVATION 2021–2045 CONDUCTED BY LABSOSIO UI FOUND THE LACK OF LITERACY IN SEVERAL CITIES
Researcher of the Education and Social Transformation Research Cluster, LabSosio, Department of Sociology, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI) explained a number of issues regarding literacy activities found in schools, families, and communities. This was conveyed by Prof. Dr. Paulus Wirutomo, M.Sc.; Dr. Indera Ratna Irawati Pattinasarany, M.A .; and Dr. Lucia Ratih Kusumadewi, S.Sos., DEA in the “Dissemination of Results of the Focus Group Discussion on National Literacy Cultivation”, last Monday (20/2), at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.
According to Dr. Indera, at school, literacy is still known and interpreted in a limited way and underutilized by students and teachers, while at home, parents and the community are not used to literacy activities. This happens because the library is not yet an appealing place to visit, and people are more interested in gadgets.
A number of students said that the library was closed when they came home from school, so they could not access reading materials. Students only study in class and read textbooks. In fact, it is important for students to seek written and oral information outside the classroom. Meanwhile, in the family environment, parents are not used to literacy activities at home and their digital literacy level is still low.
These findings were obtained from the results of focused group discussions (FGD) held in Kupang, Bali, and Medan, in August–September 2022. This activity, which was attended by national literacy activists, students, teachers, and regional library managers, was part of an indirect public test of Naskah Akademik Peta Jalan Pembudayaan Literasi 2021–2045 prepared by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture in 2021.
Naskah Akademik Peta Jalan Pembudayaan Literasi was prepared as an effort to boost literacy levels in the country which are constrained by various limitations, ranging from infrastructure, literacy activities, and funding support. To see the suitability of the policy plan to the needs of the community, a public test needs to be carried out on the academic papers that have been prepared.
To address the problem of the lack of literacy in several regions in Indonesia, LabSosio UI recommends several things, one of which is the establishment of a working group involving teachers, students, parents, and literacy activists to encourage literacy activities in schools. Dr. Lucia said there was a need for collaboration-based literacy activity methods related to oral traditions in Indonesia as well as financial support and collaborative facilities. Digital literacy in schools needs to be encouraged so students do not only use gadgets for entertainment but also for education.
Besides that, literacy culture in the family must also be grown. LabSosio UI proposes that parents should be involved in children’s literacy projects at schools. Based on the findings in the FGD, many parents no longer read books regularly after completing formal education. “Literacy activities in other contexts, such as discussions and storytelling, are also lacking. If parents are involved, it may foster literacy in the family,” said Dr. Lusia.
According to Prof. Paulus, there are three important strengths or elements that can support the growth of literacy culture in Indonesia. First, the structural element, i.e. the government, which provides guidance and encouragement to the public to get used to a literacy culture. Second, the cultural elements of society that can revive old traditions, such as storytelling. Third, elements of social processes which are inter-institutional collaborations such as libraries as learning hubs so that libraries are not just places to store books. “The current library transformation is so powerful, but in the reality, it is still not felt by the community. Therefore, I am dissatisfied about the idea of this cultivation of literacy only lasting until 2045, while it actually should be continuous,” said Prof. Paulus.
