Illiteracy Still High In E Nusa Tenggara

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Sept 17 (Antara) - Around 800,000 people of East Nusa Tenggara which has a population of around 5.3 million are still illiterate, an local official said. "It is shocking that there is still a region with high illiteracy although the country has long claimed itself to be free of illiteracy," Beni Wahon, an official of the regional education and culture office, said here on Wednesday. Illiteracy was found in various areas in the impoverished island provinces, he said. The country sets aside the biggest portion of its state budget for education , among the highest in percentage in the world. Beni said the regional administration has carried out a number of programs to reduce illiteracy in the province. He was answering a question about progress made to eradicate illiteracy in the region ahead of the commemoration of the International Literacy Day , 2014 to be held in Kendari , Central Sulawesi on Sept. 20. One of the programs held to improve literacy in the region is organization of Community Study Group (PKBM), he said here on Wednesday. There are hundreds of PKBM units in the province and each group turned out 20 participants passing every time examination is held equivalent in quality with formal education students. Every year, thousands of people take part in the study group , Beni said.