Republika, page 5
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has requested the Minister of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) to distribute Indonesian folktale books for free to all regions across Indonesia. Jokowi believes that the books of Indonesian folktales will be able to provide moral and ethical values for children.
Stating this after commemorating National Book Day, together with Elementary (SD) and Junior High School (SMP) students in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/5), Jokowi elaborated that Indonesia has a host of stories and tales from the respective regions. The various books are born from the different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds to provide tales such as Kasarung, Malin Kundang, Sangkuriang, Roro Jonggrang and Raja Ampat.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that commemoration of this National Book Day was intended to rejuvenate children’s interest in reading. In order to reawaken this interest in reading, Kemendikbud has prepared 170 Indonesian folktale titles that will be produced and distributed across Indonesia. He said that this is based on President’s instruction for 10,000 books to be sent to each delivery point.
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