“God willing, in 2026, we will provide government assistance again in the form of book printing and delivery,” Head of the ministry's Language Agency Hafidz Muksin said during a visit to Dumai, Riau, on Saturday.
He emphasized that the ministry will focus this year on preparing quality book materials, particularly through competitions, storybook writing, and book translation.
According to him, the book assistance will target schools most in need, although he did not specify the number of books that will be printed and distributed.
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During his visit to Dumai, Muksin inspected several elementary schools and reviewed the use of books that the government had previously provided in 2022.
He expressed gratitude to local governments and teachers for guiding students in utilizing the books to improve children’s literacy.
“We really appreciate it. Based on national assessment results, the schoolchildren's literacy index has continued to increase,” he remarked.
He also praised the local government in Riau for its continuous efforts to preserve the Malay language, emphasizing that regional languages are part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage that must be safeguarded.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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