“You are what you read”

By Vicko Destrada

The phrase "you are what you read" in my opinion is not an ordinary sentence without meaning. There has been a lot of real evidence that shows reading is how we gain knowledge. With knowledge we can do things in an organized and legal manner. Besides that, to advance the country so that it can be better and develop. But sadly our country does not match the desired expectations.

Indonesia is one of the countries with a very low interest in reading. This is evidenced by research from Central Connecticut State University in March 2016, which ranked Indonesia 60th out of 61 countries in terms of public interest in reading.  In fact, Indonesia ranks above European countries in terms of assessing infrastructure supporting reading interest (kompas.com). Indonesia is only one level ahead of 61 countries and this is not one of our pride. Even though in terms of infrastructure supporting reading interest, Indonesia is superior. Some say that Indonesian people's interest in reading is closely related to the availability of infrastructure such as reading parks and public libraries, which are still few in number. The fact may not be the case.

Data from perpusnas.go.id states that the number of libraries in Indonesia actually ranks second in the world with a total of 164,610 libraries. We lost to India which ranks first with 323,605 libraries, above Russia with 113,440 libraries and China in fourth place with 105,831 libraries. This shows that Indonesians have very little interest in reading so that the knowledge of the Indonesian people tends to be minimal or low.

Fortunately, the government immediately took action to deal with the low interest in reading in Indonesia. In response to this, from time to time the government has made several efforts to increase interest in reading in Indonesia. Among them are making articles that explicitly convey the message that reading is the benchmark for the quality of an education (contained in the National Education System Law number 20 of 2003, Law number 43 of 2017, the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution and State of the Republic of Indonesia).

In addition, the government also facilitated the community by providing cheap books in 2008. The government, through the Ministry of Education and Culture, purchased the copyright of textbooks for elementary through high school. The books can be accessed through the Kemendikbud website so that more people can access them. Unfortunately, the book facility is only limited to textbooks. Meanwhile, general, literary and non-fiction works have not received easy access even though these books are what is needed to build a culture of literacy in the community.The government also implemented the National Movement for Reading, which is mandated by Government Regulation No. 24/2014 and further strengthened by Permendikbud No. 23/2015 on Cultivating Budi Pekerti. In section IV on Developing the Potential of Learners as a Whole, schools should facilitate optimally so that students can discover, recognize and develop their potential. To achieve this goal, schools are required to use 15 minutes before the learning day to read books other than subject books every day.

The technical implementation of the National Movement for Reading is further regulated through the Ministry of Education and Culture by issuing technical guidelines for the 2017 National Literacy Movement (GLN). After GLN, Kemendikbud issued technical guidelines for the Family Literacy Movement (GLK), School Literacy Movement (GLS) and Community Literacy Movement (GLM).The issue of financing, in the school literacy movement for example, has been regulated in the technical guidelines for School Operational Assistance (BOS). In madrasahs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued Director General of Religious Education Decree number 511 of 2019 on the Technical Guidelines for School Operational Assistance (BOS). In this technical guideline, BOS funds can be used for library development and book purchases. Books that can be purchased are main textbooks, companion textbooks, and non-textbooks to support learning programs and the school literacy movement. The amount of book purchases is a maximum of 25% of the total BOS funds received per year. If a SMP/MTs school has 500 students, the total BOS funds received are Rp550,000,000. The amount of BOS funds received is Rp1100,000/student/year. From the total funds, schools may use it to purchase books amounting to Rp137,500,000 (total BOS funds multiplied by 25%).

If the government does not take action and the lack of awareness from the public about reading interest in Indonesia brings a number of significant negative impacts, especially in terms of individual development and societal progress.

1. Low Literacy and Comprehension.

Lack of reading habits makes it difficult for people to improve their literacy and comprehension skills of complex information. This is evident from Indonesia's low ranking in global literacy surveys, such as PISA, which shows Indonesian students' reading skills are below international standards.

2. Impact on Education.

Low interest in reading has an effect on academic achievement. Students with low reading interest tend to have difficulty understanding subject matter that requires analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It can also stifle creativity and innovation among students.

3. Information Gap.

When people are not accustomed to reading, there is a gap in access to quality information. Many rely solely on information from social media or less credible sources, affecting the quality of their understanding of social, political and economic issues.

4. Lack of Competitiveness at the Global Level.

Low interest in reading also impacts the nation's competitiveness. Lack of information literacy skills makes it difficult for individuals to compete in a global workforce that requires the ability to think critically, process information and solve problems.

Overall, low interest in reading hinders the intellectual development of individuals and communities, and slows down a country's socio-economic progress.

But increased interest in reading has a number of significant positive impacts, both on the individual and society at large:

1. Improved Critical and Analytical Thinking Skills.

Active reading stimulates the brain to think critically, analyze information, and draw conclusions. This helps individuals in solving problems and understanding more complex issues. Strong literacy makes one more responsive to different perspectives and ideas.

2. Expanding Insights and Knowledge.

Increased interest in reading expands access to information from various fields such as science, technology, history, and culture. By reading more, individuals can expand their knowledge horizons, enhance creativity and be better prepared to face global challenges.

3. Improved Academic Achievement.

A high interest in reading is often directly proportional to good academic performance. Students who enjoy reading tend to have better reading comprehension skills, which in turn improves performance in other subjects such as math and science.

4. Increases Empathy and Social Understanding.

Reading, especially fiction books, is proven to improve one's ability to understand the feelings and perspectives of others. This contributes to increased empathy and social skills, which are important in interpersonal relationships as well as community life.

5. Strengthening Language Skills.

Regular reading enriches one's vocabulary, increases grammar comprehension, and improves one's writing skills. It also plays an important role in strengthening language literacy, which is especially useful in the increasingly globalized world of work.

Overall, an increased interest in reading strengthens an individual's intellectual, social and professional foundations, and supports society's progress in various sectors.