Deepen the Literacy Movement, Legislator Willy Aditya Proposes Reading Corners for Employees to OB and Drivers

Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, Willy Aditya, proposed the creation of a reading corner at several 'transit' locations in the DPR/IST PHOTO

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, Willy Aditya, proposed the creation of a reading corner at several 'transit' locations in the DPR. As one of the legislators who drive literacy, according to Willy, employees and workers in the DPR such as office boy (OB), cleaning service (CS), driver and Pamdal (security officer in) DPR have access to read.

"Good intentions to build literacy can start from things around us, for people in our own environment," said Willy Aditya, Friday, June 26.

This was also conveyed by Willy when filling in the Festival Literasi talk show held by the DPR. The talk show titled 'Cultural Literacy for Democracy: Caring for Wisdom, Strengthening Nationalism' was held at the DPR Library on Thursday, June 25, yesterday.

In addition to Willy, the talk show was also filled with literacy activists who have long been involved in the world of books and reading, Wien Muldian and Communication Lecturer at Bina Nusantara University and doctoral researcher in communication, Andari Karina Anom. The talk show presents three voices from three different worlds, namely politics, literacy movements, and academia.

According to Willy, the talk show at the DPR Literacy Festival does not talk about policy figures, nor about political debates. But about something more fundamental, namely how a nation reads itself.

Among the many things discussed, there was one moment that left the deepest impression. As a politician, Willy did not talk about policies or laws related to literacy.

On that occasion, Willy actually talked about OB, CS, Pamdal, DPR General Staff employees, to the drivers of DPR members who pass through the corridors and basements where the cars are parked every day.

Willy's attention was drawn to something that had escaped the attention of many parties, namely the issue of their access and space to literacy.

"I imagine that spaces that have been only transit places can become windows of knowledge that are accessible, open to anyone, regardless of the uniform they wear," he said.

Willy said that community groups such as OB, CS, and Pamdal have so far lacked access to reading books, even though reading is one of the parts of literacy that is important for the community.

"With the reading corner in the basement, in the parking area, in the rest area for employees, we hope that the Indonesian literacy movement will be of greater benefit. Maybe it can also be done in other ministries/institutions," said Willy.

The NasDem faction member reminded that literacy is not only the ability to read and write but the main foundation of education which includes the skills of accessing, understanding, and using information critically. Therefore, Willy said that all people from various backgrounds have the right to access literacy including OB, drivers to security officers.

"Indeed, the leaders of the session in the DPR can run smoothly thanks to who if it is not for the security of the Pamdal? Indeed, the work of the TA (experts) can run smoothly if some of their needs are not supported by the OB?" he said rhetorically.

Willy said that literacy is not just knowing and not just for those who sit in seminar or school benches.

"Literacy belongs to all parties and circles. It belongs to those who read newspapers in the canteen, who discuss what they have just read, to the drivers who write small notes during the break while waiting for their superiors to meet in the DPR building," said Willy.

Willy also emphasized that every Indonesian citizen has the right to access education, which is the basic right of all Indonesian people.

"Literacy is part of education. This means that when literacy access is met, the basic rights of citizens to get an education are also met," said the legislator from the East Java XI District.

"Of course this is in line with the constitutional mandate 'to improve the life of the nation' which is one of the noble goals of the Indonesian state," added Willy.

The head of the Human Rights Commission (HAM) also emphasized the importance of the literacy movement following the phenomenon of the literacy crisis in Indonesia. According to Willy, the literacy crisis in Indonesia is a multidimensional challenge characterized by low PISA scores (Programme for International Student Assessment) and community reading interest.

"Indonesia still has challenges in terms of literacy. We see how in various regions advanced school children are found who cannot read. The national illiteracy rate also has a declining trend," he said.

"Therefore, various approaches to increase public reading interest need to be multiplied, including expanding access to reading for people from all walks of life," added Willy.

Willy, who is known as one of the activists of the literacy of the country, also did not stop at the level of ideas and discourse. In the DPR Literacy Festival, he immediately distributed a diary book (diary) to the cleaning staff, security officers, and employees of the DPR RI who attended.

With the diary, Willy hopes that writing activities, which are also part of literacy, can grow in the DPR environment.

"It's not a thick book full of theories. Just a small notebook with the great hope that writing, like reading, can become a habit that grows from everyday life. Who knows, a new writer, poet, and poet will be born from this DPR," he said.

"Because literacy is not just reading. Literacy is adequate knowledge about something. That is why writing is also needed so that a dialectic grows in our minds. That is what literacy is all about," concluded Willy.