CCN, CILEGON – The Literacy Seminar “Building Civilization Through Literacy,” organized by the Department of Education and Culture (Dindikbud) of Cilegon City at the Mayor’s Residence as part of the Full Bachelor’s Scholarship Fair program, has successfully captured the attention of 1,369 students. The Cilegon City Government (Pemkot) aims to enroll 5,000 students by 2025 in this full bachelor’s scholarship program.
The Literacy Seminar held on December 21, 2023, aims to enhance public understanding of the crucial role of literacy in building civilization, drawing participants from diverse backgrounds, including students, educators, functional literacy learners, and managers of community learning centers (TBM) and community learning posts (PKM) in Cilegon.
Heni Anita Susila, the Head of the Education Department in Cilegon, emphasizes that literacy encompasses not only reading and writing skills but also a profound understanding of the content being read. “With strong literacy, the community can actively participate in building civilization through critical thinking and creativity,” she expressed.
Several prominent speakers, including Heri Hendrayana Harris (Gol A Gong), H. Ismatullah Syihabudin, and M. Rois Renaldi, discussed various aspects of literacy, including digital literacy, media, and civilization. They outlined how literacy can be a key driver of positive change in society.
The seminar began by highlighting the urgency of literacy in the context of human civilization development by the speakers, asserting that reading and writing skills are not just skills but the fundamental foundation for the social, economic, and cultural development of a society. Speakers shared experiences and ideas on how improving literacy can shape a more critical, innovative, and educated societal mindset.
The “Literacy Seminar: Building Civilization Through Literacy” concluded with a question-and-answer session, allowing participants to interact directly with the speakers. This provided an opportunity for participants to delve deeper into the concept of literacy and gain further insights.
One participant, Iin, a student in Cilegon, expressed inspiration and a deeper awareness of the importance of literacy in daily life. “This seminar provides new insights into how literacy can bring significant changes in building civilization,” she said.
The seminar is expected to be a crucial milestone in efforts to enhance literacy in the Cilegon community, supporting the development of a quality and sustainable civilization. Rois Renaldi emphasized the comprehensive concept of literacy, where literacy serves as a key in facing the realities of life and bridging language and culture. “The logic of accessible literacy can bring about a civilization where language and culture cannot be separated,” said Rois Renaldi, the founder of Gaksa (Association of ASEAN Literary Communities).
This literacy seminar contributes positively to educating the public about the importance of literacy as the foundation for civilization development. It is hoped that the understanding gained by participants from this seminar will be the first step in building a literate and culturally rich society, advancing towards a more developed and sustainable civilization. (ahdi)
