An “International Seminar on Improving Literacy Based on Mother Tongue and ICTs: Enhancing Inclusion and Equity of Digital Literacy for All” is being organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia on 31 October–3 November 2012 at Atlet Century Park Hotel (Jakarta, Indonesia).
The seminar aimed to provide the country
representatives with an international perspective on the current
situation of literacy policies, practices, programmes and innovations of
literacy, which could generate new insights, ideas and possibilities on
how best to address the challenges and issues of the nine most populous
(E-9) countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan) and the ASEAN+ countries (Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam).
The event is held as an implementation of one of the
recommendations of the Abuja Declaration on Education for All (EFA),
that was jointly developed by representatives of the E-9 countries
during the “Eight E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting: Literacy for
Development” which was organized by UNESCO and the Nigerian Government
in Abuja (Nigeria) on 21-24 June 2010.
The seminar was opened by Prof. Dr. Lydia Freyani
Hawadi, Psi. (Director-General of Early Childhood, Non Formal and
Informal Education), and Prof. Hubert J. Gijzen, PhD (Director and
Representative of UNESCO Office, Jakarta).
The event was participated by Honorable Dr. Bendito
dos Santos Freitas (Minister of Education of the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste), representatives of the E-9 and ASEAN+ countries,
representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia,
and representatives of the Ministry of Communication and Information of
Indonesia.
The seminar was also enriched by presentations from
Mr. Aliou Boly (UNESCO General Education Quality Analysis Framework
[GEQAF]), Ms. Ulrike Hanemann (UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning),
Ms. Christine Glanz (UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning), and Mr.
Ichiro Miyazawa (UNESCO Bangkok) as international resource persons.
Presentations and discussions focused on sharing
good practices and experiences on improving basic and digital literacy
for all, and increasing inclusive literacy based on use of the mother
tongue. The country representatives will develop networks and
partnerships, and formulate a plan of action and commitment to improve
reading culture based on use of the mother tongue and ICTs.
