PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo inaugurated the launch of Digital Literacy Program with the tagline “Indonesia Becomes More Competent of Digital” to coincide with the 113th anniversary of National Awakening Day. Assistant for Public Administration Lies Fahimah representing the Governor of Central Kalimantan also attended the event virtually at Seruyan Room, Bahalap Hotel, Palangka Raya, Thursday (20/05/2021).

The launch of Digital Literacy Program was held from Gelora Bung Karno Jakarta, attended by more than 500,000 digital talents from all over Indonesia including from Palangka Raya who participated virtually. In addition, there were also the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim and the Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate.

The Digital Literacy Program is an initiation of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia as a follow-up to the Indonesian President’s order regarding the acceleration of national digital transformation, especially related to the development of digital Human Resources (HR). This was conveyed by Minister Johnny G. Plate in his speech. “The digital literacy program is a must in the midst of the increasingly intensive use of the internet by the community, where currently there are 196.7 million netizens in Indonesia,” he said.

According to Johnny G. Plate, in 2021, a digital literacy program is planned to be held through at least 20,000 trainings based on modules and curricula targeting 4 pillars, namely Digital Security, Digital Skills, Digital Ethics, and Digital Culture, in 514 cities and 34 provinces.

In addition to the digital literacy program, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics also launched the Digital Talents Scholarship (DTS) program by providing 100,000 scholarships per year to hone intermediate-level digital skills to optimize digital technology in collaboration with 93 universities and polytechnics in 34 provinces. Meanwhile, for the advanced level, skills development is carried out through the Digital Leadership Academy (DLA) which is open to 300 public and private sector policy makers every year, including start-up founders, Heads of Communication and Informatics offices throughout Indonesia, and other digital sector leaders. “The program target that has jumped far indicates the seriousness of the government in making breakthroughs and accelerations in the field of Digital Human Resources,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, in his remarks interpreted digital skills as smart and wise attitude in the use of technology. In connection with the commemoration of National Awakening Day, digital literacy is reflected as the meaning of getting out of adversity, being able and responsive to technological developments. “The four pillars of digital literacy will encourage the formation of a technology-based digital ecosystem that produces superior digital talents in Indonesia,” he said.

President Joko Widodo in his direction explained the growing challenges in the digital space, marked by the flood of negative content and crimes in the digital space, such as hoaxes, online fraud, gambling, sexual exploitation of children, cyber bullying, hate speech, and others. “It is our duty together to continue to minimize negative content and fill the digital space with positive content,” the President invited.

Furthermore, the President reminded that the internet must be able to increase people’s productivity. “For MSMEs to graduate, increase the number of MSMEs on boarding the e-commerce platform, so that the internet can provide added economic value to all levels of society,” he said.

“I hope this movement will continue to roll and continue to grow, it can encourage various initiatives in other places, use the internet to do concrete work,” he said.

Responding to the launch of the digital literacy program, Assistant for Public Administration Lies Fahimah on behalf of the Governor of Central Kalimantan expressed her appreciation for this initiation of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. “It is hoped that this activity can build awareness and knowledge about new digital technologies and accelerate the development and improvement of skills of the Indonesian people, especially the people of Central Kalimantan in the Digital Era,” said Lies.

Meanwhile, in a statement to a number of media, Lies assessed that Palangka Raya and Central Kalimantan Province in general were ready to digitize in all aspects. “It is proven that the Communication and Information Technology Office of Central Kalimantan Province has prepared both hardware and applications for the realization of digital literacy by providing understanding and knowledge to the public to wisely use digital technology,” he said. (dew/sop/dmr/translated by feb)