Speaking in Bandung, West Java, on Friday during a promotional event for the Indonesian Book Information System (SIBI) and a book discussion session, Haq noted the growing influence of "scroll culture".
He defined scroll culture as the habit of endlessly scrolling through digital content, which poses a challenge to instilling a reading habit in children.
“Children today prefer short videos and quick reads, while only 20-25 percent of Indonesians enjoy reading. That means just one in five people like reading. This is a major challenge we must address together,” he said.
To counter the effects of scroll culture, he explained that the Ministry is promoting deep learning approaches.
“Deep learning is not about the number of books read, but about understanding content, connecting it to real-life situations, and developing critical thinking and imagination. This is how to handle scroll culture amidst the flood of non-educational content,” Haq explained.
He added that the Ministry remains committed to strengthening literacy through access to quality books and the use of the SIBI platform, which provides curated, safe, and relevant textbooks and non-textbooks.
Although e-books offer convenience, Haq highlighted the continued importance of printed books.
“Research shows that reading comprehension is often better with printed materials. Combining both printed and digital formats is important to fostering deep learning,” he said.
He encouraged families to take part in instilling a reading culture in children at home.
“Let’s make reading a daily habit, just one page or chapter at home. A love for books is a love for knowledge," he concluded.
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Translator: Tri, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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