UGM Trained 22 Thousands of Illiterate People

 
Universitas Gadjah Mada has successfully trained at least 22 thousands of illiterate people through the KKN PPM PBA (community service program in eradicating illiteracy) from 2006 – 2009. That was delivered by program organizer, Dr. Irkham Widiyono, in a workshop entitled “Effort to Accelerate Illiteracy Eradication through KKN PPM” held at University Club, Second Floor, Thursday (19/11).
 
Irkham explained that UGM had conducted the project to 25 thousands of illiterate people, 22 thousands of whom passed the basic exam,” he said. It was mentioned by Irkham that the program was held in 46 regencies in 7 provinces: Yogyakarta, Central Java, West Java, Jakarta, Banten and Jambi. The program involved 1,810 university students and 45 lecturers.
 
Irkham said that illiteracy is the basic problem in society. In contrast, literacy is  the basic capital to create sustainable development which has three main pillars: economy, social and environment. Dealing with this, a university has big potentials to give significant contribution to illiteracy eradication acceleration, functional literacy learning, and sustainable development.
 
Meanwhile, Guno Widagdo, The Head of Non-Formal Education of Wonosobo Regency, Central Java, said that the basic and advanced learning to eradicate illiteracy were targeted for those at the age of 44 or older. “In Wonosobo this year, the percentage of literacy is 90% of people over 44 years old,” he said. He mentioned that from 2006 to 2008 the number of people who became literate in Wonosobo was 28,078.