Schools to include Indonesian literature in curricula

Among those included in the list is a book written by renowned author Pramoedya Ananta Toer titled Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), which was banned during President Soeharto’s authoritarian regime. 

The government’s plan to include literary works in all learning levels from elementary to senior high has received a warm welcome from the public, as many believe it can boost students’ creativity and critical thinking. The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry with the help of numerous curators has listed 177 literary works to be utilized as reference materials for teachers nationwide, although the teachers can also use other sources deemed more relevant to their respective subjects. Among those included in the list is a book written by renowned author Pramoedya Ananta Toer titled Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), which was banned during President Soeharto’s authoritarian regime. Pramoedya was accused of having a close ally with the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party, and was subsequently imprisoned from 1965 to 1979 on the Buru prison island.