Literacy in Indonesia is categorized into three levels of competencies: (a) Level 1 – basic reading and writing in Bahasa, and numeracy skills; (b) Functional – Level 1 plus life skills; and (c) Advanced Level – academic and professional.
Pursuant to the 1945 Constitution which specifics that all Indonesian citizens have the right to education, and in conjunction with its national movement to accelerate the achievement of universal nine-year compulsory basic education, Indonesia seeks to hasten eradication of illiteracy per Presidential instruction 5/2006. Literacy programmes are provided through non-formal means for those who are unable to participate in formal education (Article 26 of Law 20/2003) Indonesia targets to reduce the percentage of the country’s illiterates belonging to the 15 year-old and above age group to 5% by 2009, from the 9.6% illiteracy rate recorded in 2005.
Source: Asia and the Pacific Education for All (EFA) Mid-Decade Assessment, INSULAR SOUTH-EAST ASIA, Synthesis Report ©UNESCO 2009
| Quick Facts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADULT LITERACY RATE (15 and over) | YOUTH LITERACY RATE (15 - 24 years) | |||
| Total | 87.9 | 92.6 | 98.0 | 99.5 |
| Male | 92.5 | 95.7 | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| Female | 83.4 | 89.7 | 97.6 | 99.4 |
| Total (000) | 18432 | 17168 | 834 | 222 |
| %Female | 69.0 | 69.1 | 62.0 | 56.3 |
Source: Integrated living conditions households survey, 2009/ Population census, 2002/ UIS estimation, 2000-2004/ Population census, 1998/ Population census, 2010/ Survey of living standards, 2001&2007/ Population census, 2009/ Population census, 2000/ RMI Demographic and health survey, 2007/ Demographic and health survey (final report), 2007/ Demographic and health survey, 2006-2007/ MDG Report, 2006/ Population census (UIS) & estimation from UN population, 1979 and National risk and vulnerability assessment, 2007-2008/ Living standard survey, 2003