Becoming a Wise Student by Embracing Literary Culture

In this era, it has become common knowledge that reading activities seem less appealing, especially among students. There are many more enjoyable activities to do, especially with the availability of smartphones. The phenomenon where students are more likely to hold their phones than books shows that interest in reading is still relatively low.

"Reading makes me sleepy, especially if the language is monotonous." This is the typical response from most students when asked about their interest in reading books. Such a statement is certainly one reason why reading interest in Indonesia, particularly among students, is considered low. In fact, according to data from UNESCO in 2016, Indonesia had a poor global literacy index score. The reading interest in Indonesia was recorded at only 0.001%, meaning that out of 1,000 people, only 1 is an avid reader. Another study published by the World's Most Literate Nations Ranked by Central Connecticut State University in March 2016 placed Indonesia 60th out of 61 countries in terms of reading interest, ranking one position below Thailand (59) and one above Botswana.

This condition is certainly concerning. Yet, through reading, the gateway to knowledge opens wide, and what was previously unknown becomes known. There are many benefits to be gained from this activity, which is often deemed "monotonous." Moreover, as students, reading activities can certainly make them part of an educated nation, which will later become the cornerstone of the country's future.

Addressing this issue, several efforts can be made to increase reading interest among students. First, there needs to be an effort to raise student awareness by creating a widespread literacy campaign through media with a broad reach, such as social media. This way, the purpose of the activity can be conveyed to students.

Second, providing varied and interesting books or reading materials. In addition to textbooks, it would be better if these reading sources matched the common preferences of students. For example, novels, fictional stories, or even self-development books with attractive cover illustrations. A study published by INVENSI: Jurnal Penciptaan dan Pengkajian Seni found that about 75% of respondents preferred book covers with attractive illustrations, soft colors, typography that matched the illustration, and a simple impression when looking at a book. This strategy can be employed to attract students' interest in reading.

Moreover, adequate facilities are also needed to provide comfort for students. For instance, by providing a good library, students will feel comfortable spending a long time there. Reading will no longer be a boring activity, and students' desire to visit the library more often will grow naturally.

Therefore, to foster a literacy culture, it is necessary for students, teachers, and the surrounding community to work together to build good reading habits, and this must be supported by adequate facilities provided by the government. It is hoped that with these efforts, a literacy culture among students can be realized.