Cultural and economic factors cause illiteracy: Kalla

MATARAM (Antara): Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said Saturday the high illiteracy rate in Indonesia was caused by cultural and economic factor.The Vice President made his speech at an International Literacy Day function in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)."We have been conducting various programs to free the nation from illiteracy for a long time," he said.

Currently the government was intensifying a nine-year compulsory education program as part of the national literacy program, he said, citing that in general, provinces which had sent workers abroad had relatively high illiteracy rates.

"For instance, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and Bugis (South Sulawesi) where many of their residents working abroad have high illiteracy rates," he said.

Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo said the International Literacy Day was initiated by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) members in 1965.

"Illiteracy is closely linked with ignorance. Therefore, UNESCO and a number of its member countries have launched a fight against illiteracy program," the minister said.

UNESCO said that the vital relationship between literacy and health is the focus of this year's International Literacy Day celebrated around the world on Sept. 8.

In his message. the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, said "Literacy strengthens the capabilities of people to take advantage of health care and educational opportunities - for example, by seeking medical help for themselves and a sick child, by adopting preventive health measures such as immunization, and by acquiring greater knowledge of family planning methods."

"Educated parents, especially mothers - whether through formal schooling or adult programs - are more likely to send their children to school and have a better understanding of their health care needs," he said.

Despite the various effort to fight against illiteracy, some 774 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate— with two-thirds of them are women; 72.1 million children are out of school and many more attend irregularly or drop out, UNESCO data read