Papua Targets Lowering Illiteracy Rate by 5 Percent in 2024

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua provincial government is aiming to reduce the rate of illiteracy by five percent in 2024, as part of its focus work program this year.

Head of the Papua Provincial Education Office, Christian Sohilait, stated here on Tuesday that the rate of illiteracy in Papua in 2023 had reached 19 percent.

"Illiteracy is still an issue that must be solved immediately in 2024," he remarked.

According to Sohilait, the national illiteracy rate had reached 1.8 percent, so this year, his side is committed to decreasing the rate in the region by two to five percent.

The Papua Education Office expected to meet the target by preparing teachers who will provide literacy exercises to children in need.

His side is prioritizing children living in remote areas while preparing the human resources that will educate them.

"Through cooperation with other parties in districts and cities, the target of decreasing the illiteracy rate can be achieved," he affirmed.

He remarked that in future, his office will arrange more flexible lessons, for instance, individual lessons at home rather than at school.

"Hence, teachers do not only provide lessons at school, (but) they must also go from house to house, and they will have sufficient time to provide literacy education to children outside school hours," he explained.

Based on the National Socioeconomic Survey by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in 2022, the illiteracy rate in Indonesia among people aged 15-59 years had reached 1.5 percent, decreasing from 1.56 percent in 2021.

The government stated that the decline in illiteracy rate is an indicator of the success of the national education program and the commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ANTARA

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