Wamena, Jubi – Lanny Jaya Regent Befa Yigibalom launched a Papua children storybook written in three languages – local, Bahasa Indonesia and English – during a visit by the Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture in Tiom on Saturday (08/10/2016).
The book launch coordinator, Mrs. Rosa Noya Sahetapi, explained that the storybook was published in cooperation with Hadassah Foundation and the English Department of Cenderawasih University for the local government of Lanny Jaya.
The event also marked the launch of the program of Gerakan Indonesia Membaca (Indonesian Movement for Reading) and the Reading Center at SMP YPPGI Lanny Jaya.
“We hope this multilingual book would encourage other new stories, in particularly the local stories of Lanny Jaya as well as to protect the local culture,” said Rosa.
Through the storybook, which tell about the origin of salt in Kurulu, Wamena, it is expected to bring some positive impacts for the early childhood education in the character building. It is also to become a media for growing the affection of books among the children and educating the young generation in Lanny Jaya.
Minister of Education and Culture Prof. Muhajir Effendy expressed his appreciation and readiness to support the performance of Lanny Jaya Regent Befa Yigibalom because he has improved and prioritized the education in his region. “I appreciate the regent’s program that has put the education as priority in Lanny Jaya. This is a way that the modern regional leader should have,” said the minister.
He said there is no other way to encourage Indonesia to become an advance country without makes prioritization to its human resources in the first place. Indonesia is a wealth country indeed, because it has lots of natural resources, but it would be extinct and wasted if it was managed by unqualified persons.
“Education is extremely important and I fully understand about how difficult is in dealing with the education in Lanny Jaya,” said the minister.
In order to support the program, the minister has provided a financial assistance to support the education in literacy and equation programs to Lanny Jaya Government. (*/rom)
