Rosina Upesy (number 4 from right) while announcing the winners of a reading and book review competition for high school students of Jayapura Municipality (Jubi/Alex)
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, citing a study, said Indonesians’ reading skills is still considered lowest among 30 countries.
The phenomenon shows reading is not yet a habit among elementary school-age children, he said.
“This study also reveals the same result among junior high school students,” said Enembe in a speech read out by the Provincial 3rd Assistant, Rosina Upesy while announcing the winners of a reading and book review competition for high school students of Jayapura Municipality on Tuesday (7/10).
Yokbet Merauje, a student of SMP 4 Jayapura was announced as the First Winner of this competition.
Upesy further said this competition a good way to help improve the studentsí skills and competency.
“A reading culture is an indicator of a nationís civilization. A developed community has made a reading as part of their basic needs among other physical and social requirements. There is a close relationship between the development of a nation and the reading culture growing in the community,” she said.
She also said the reading culture is part of learning process, because in general it also means a condition to the learning community and an effort to the character building since an early age.
“Today, the reading culture was only rooted in the certain groups of Indonesian community, namely the intellectuals, public and religious figures, and those who because of their positions and opportunities to develop their knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, this reading competition and other similar competitions are important to develop the childrenís interest in reading in Papua,” Upesy said.
Earlier, the Provincial 1st Assistant, Doren Wakerkwa asked the Regional Archiving and Library Body to accommodate the public needs on the books and other reading materials to support and improve their knowledge and reading skills.
“We can’t deny the important role of library and reading for education and technology, from the primary schools to universities. It is part of the government’s vision and mission in developing the quality of human resources in Papua,” said Wakerkwa.
According to him, the library is part of the teaching and learning facilities. But on the other hand, it needs some technological innovations in order to provide best services to the library users as part of facilities.
“The improvement of the role of library is very important, as stated in the Law No. 23/2007. Actually, it is to educate the nation. Therefore, the government have obligation to guarantee the availability of the library in each region of this country,” he said. (Alexander Loen/rom)
