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Educators urge Nadiem not to neglect informal education
Academics and educators have voiced concern that the Education and Culture Ministry's structural reforms are not inclusive of informal education programs.
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Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim (Instagram/@Kemendikbud.RI)
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ublic reading parks in South Tangerang, Banten, provide a prime example of how community-based initiatives can improve access to education.
Concerned about the low level of literacy in the city, several communities have set up reading parks that allow anyone to borrow books and take part in their activities for free.
“Many of the public reading parks are located in low-income and marginalized communities because we’re trying to reach the unreached and to serve those who are ignored,” South Tangerang public reading park forum chairwoman Herlina Mustikasari said on Wednesday.
The initiatives have won national recognition.
“Several reading parks were named as the country’s best, and since 2010 we have consistently won awards from the Banten administration as the best public reading parks,” she said.
However, Herlina expressed concern that such initiatives would not be well managed after the Education and Culture Ministry – under the leadership of Nadiem Makarim – abolished the early childhood and community education directorate general.
Prior to the restructuring, the directorate general oversaw, among other areas, informal education such as homeschooling, community-based learning programs and reading parks.
