Contributing to Literacy: BPS Tegal Regency Sets Up a Booth at the Literacy Exhibition

On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Library and Archives Office of Tegal Regency held a literacy exhibition. The event was attended by Drs. Eko Jati Santoro, M.Si (Head of the Library and Archives Office), and represented by Amir Makhmud, S.E, M.Si (the Deputy Regent of Tegal). The exhibition aimed to promote literacy and encourage reading among young people.

During the opening remarks, Drs. Eko Jati Santoro, M.Si highlighted Indonesia’s low literacy ranking, which places it second from the bottom globally. He expressed hope that this exhibition would inspire interest in reading and literacy, especially among children and youth.

Amir Makhmud added that despite Indonesia being the fourth-largest owner of smart devices globally, the country still faces low reading interest. He mentioned the shift from traditional book reading to digital consumption, with Indonesian youth estimated to spend up to 9 hours per day looking at screens. The exhibition aimed to address this challenge and foster a reading culture.

Notably, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) actively contributed to literacy efforts. At the exhibition, BPS Tegal creatively set up a booth featuring data visualizations, infographics, and publications. Additionally, they provided a digital questionnaire for visitors to offer feedback and evaluation for future literacy initiatives. (Magang STIS)