Banten Has Highest Illiteracy Status in Indonesia
Wednesday, 30 April, 2008 | 17:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Serang: Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) has said that the province of Banten has the highest illiteracy level in Indonesia.

Out of the total 11 million illiterate people in Indonesia, 3.3 percent of them are in Banten.

“We will support the eradication of illiteracy in Banten by 2009,” said J. Rachbini, a member of the DPR commission X.

The Banten regional education office reported to commission X that there are 112,000 illiterate people in the province.

“Banten is one of 10 provinces with an illiteracy problem.”

Didik, who is a politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN), asked the regional government to create a program that is easily understood by the local people.

The central government will provide 70 percent of the budget, with 30 percent from the regional budget.

Meanwhile, Eko Endang Koswara, head of the Banten regional education office, denied that Banten was ranked at the highest illiteracy level.

Mabsuti Ibnu Marhas