Jakarta, Thursday (4 September 2008) -- The peak event of the 43rd International Literacy Day will be held at Ksrirarnawa Taman Budaya Building, in Denpasar, Bali on 8 September 2008. The commemoration of International Literacy Day is themed "The Commemoration of 43rd International Literacy Day 2008 to Improve the Quality of National Movement on Illiteracy Eradication Acceleration". The commemoration ceremony will be attended by the Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo.

The Director General of Non-Formal and Informal Education of the Ministry of National Education Hamid Muhammad said that the number of illiterate world population is quite large. He said, in 2006 there was 771 million illiterate world people and 72 percent among them are women. "This number composition of illiterate woman is similar to that in Indonesia. Therefore, in the last few years we work hard to eradicate illiteracy with targets as specified in a strategic plan," he said during his pers conference at Information and Media Lounge of the Ministry of National Education in Jakarta, Thursday (09/2/2008).

Hamid said, the illiteracy eradication will be implemented through various ways namely bureaucracy by allocating relevant budget in the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) and Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), cooperation with 59 universities through thematic Community Service Program (KKN), and cooperation with various institutions and community social organization such as Family Welfare Education (PKK), NU Moslem Community and Aisyiyah. Furthermore, he said, by cooperating with community organization of forest village community institution which handles unreachable communities. "We expect that the target of 1.7 million up to 2 million people every year can be achieved in order to eradicate illiteracy," he said.

Hamid said, at the peak event of International Literacy Day this year, the government will grant literacy award to three governors whose provinces declared completing illiteracy eradication. Similar awards will also be granted to 8 mayors and 38 regents. The Literacy Award granted by the government consist of some levels namely pratama, madya, utama, and paripurna.

Hamid stated, there are six literacy education tutors, six journalist and ordinary people who will be receiving awards as winners of writing contest on literacy education. In the peak event of the commemoration of International Literacy Day this year, the government will also grant awards to performance non-formal education figures and institutions in the field of Early Age Children Education (PAUD).

Those who will receive the awards are four regents/mayors, three regency/municipality PAUD forums, three Associations of Early Age Children Education at regency/municipality level, four woman organizations/Family Welfare Education at regency/municipality level, and three community figures as well as four Community Learning Activity Centers (PKBM).

The Head of Sub-Division of Extra-School and Extraordinary Education of Education Service of Bali Province Ni Made Mertanadi said, the peak event of International Literacy Day would be followed by educational exhibition displaying the works of community who learn non-formal education. This exhibition, he said, would be opened on 7 September 2008 by the Regional Secretary of Bali Province. "There would be four special demonstrations to be displayed namely bridal make-up, fingerprint making, spa and the making of spa ingredients," he concluded.***