Empowering Digital Literacy: Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Informatics Presents Digital Literacy Week in East Nusa Tenggara

ENDE, Indonesia, May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Informatics (MCI) and the National Digital Literacy Movement (GNLD) Siberkreasi returns with the Digital Literacy Week in East Nusa Tenggara through the #MakinCakapDigital campaign. The one-day workshop with the theme "Digital Literacy to Support Digital Transformation" was held in person on 9 May 2023 at Graha Ristela, Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

The Internet has become an inseparable part of Indonesian society, including for the residents of East Nusa Tenggara. Recognizing the importance of the Internet in daily life, the Ministry must educate the community and various communities in Ende Regency and other areas in East Nusa Tenggara. In addition to improving digital literacy, this activity is also expected to increase the internet penetration rate in the country.

"According to our data, approximately 73.3% of the total population in Indonesia are active Internet users. However, many social media users are exposed to issues related to ethnicity, religion, race, and hoax and become victims of crimes as people only know how to use social media without understanding the consequences. Therefore, Digital Literacy Week is important to increase the digital awareness of the communities in Ende," said Suprianto, Acting Head of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics in Ende Regency.

"Digital transformation is constantly evolving and changing. Considering fundamental aspects to ensure smooth activities and communication in the digital world is important. Such as respecting cultural norms, maintaining ethical conduct in digital platforms, and prioritizing personal and others' safety and well-being online," explained Dr. Laurentius D. Gadi Djou, Accounting Lecturer at Flores University.

With the increasing penetration of the Internet, the digital literacy of Indonesians continues to improve every year. According to the Digital Literacy Index 2022 released by the Ministry, Indonesia scored 3.54 out of 5, placing the country at a moderate level; this represents a slight increase of 0.05 points compared to 2021's score of 3.49. The digital literacy index is measured based on four significant indicators: Digital Skills, Digital Ethics, Digital Safety, and Digital Culture.

The digital literacy initiatives conducted by the Ministry have helped bridge the gap between digital literacy levels in urban and rural areas. According to the Indonesia Digital Literacy Status 2023 survey by Katadata Insight Center (KIC) in collaboration with the Ministry, respondents from urban areas with a high digital literacy index accounted for 52.5 percent. In rural areas, the proportion of individuals with high digital literacy was about 49.8 percent. The narrow gap between the two indicates a more even development of digital competitiveness in Indonesia.

As Fernando Watu, the Head of West Detusoko Village, Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, states, "The future we desire is the perspective and actions of local the local residents. Therefore, there is a need for collaboration between universities and villages with a millennial approach, utilizing the appropriate technologies. Digitalization of the village should focus more on digitalizing products and the village's potential."

One important aspect of digitalization in villages is the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs supported by the right technology can enhance the competitiveness of products from village entrepreneurs. "Some benefits of digitalizing MSMEs operations include broader and limitless marketing, easy access, direct consumer communication, and 24-hour availability. In addition, digitalizing MSMEs also eliminates barriers related to education, age, physical condition, location, and other factors, allowing businesses to thrive without limitations," expressed Ferdianus Rega, Founder of Istana Sehat and MSME Activist.

Various development initiatives support the promotion of digital competitiveness across the country, such as accelerating ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, fostering digital talent competitiveness, and promoting financial literacy. The participation of diverse groups in Ende Regency, including the Waste Bank Community, Mobile Legend Community, and MSMEs, clearly demonstrates the enthusiasm of the local communities. To conclude the workshop, the participants were entertained with performances by local bands, stand-up comedians, and exciting door prizes.

For more information, please visit info.literasidigital.id and follow @Siberkreasi on Instagram.

About the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics

The Ministry of Communications and Informatics of Indonesia through Ditjen Aptika has the primary function of spreading and developing the national digital infrastructure to accelerate Indonesia's digital transformation.

The Ministry is working with National Digital Literacy Movement Siberkreasi as its partner to provide education on digital literacy to the broader public through various forms of media. This movement is focused on using digital literacy as a way to elevate the national capability and to further the Indonesian people.