LOW READING INTEREST IN INDONESIAN CHILDREN Arnita Fitri (a*), Aan Listiana (b)
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Abstract
The United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization officially declared that on September 8th, International Literacy Day is celebrated. This years celebration entered the 54th since its first celebration proclaimed by UNESCO on November 7th, 1965. Literacy is an individual ability or skill in writing, reading, calculating, and speaking. Based on UNESCOs statistical data, Indonesia is in the 60th place out of 61 countries whose literacy level was low. The data obviously shows that reading interest in Indonesia is still left behind. It can also be seen from the data issued by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2014 about the comparison of reading and other activities, watching (85.9%), listening to the radio (40.3%), and reading (23.5%). From the data, it can be seen that the reading activities got the lowest score in comparison to the other activities. Whereas, it can be known that the development of technology and era in Indonesia can be said to be increased, yet the Indonesian childrens reading interest is still low. This article aimed to explore Indonesian childrens reading interests. The method used in this research was a literature review. It is expected that this article can give educators and parents the knowledge about the condition of Indonesian childrens reading interest and initiate the attempt to improve it.
Keywords: literacy, low reading interest, children
Keywords: Literacy. Low Interest in Reading. Children
Topic: Language Development and Literacy in Early Childhood Education
