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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 November 2008
In 1945, when Indonesia declared its independence from the colonial regime of the Netherlands, only one Indonesian in twenty could read and write (Napitupulu 1980). Just 35 years later, in 1980, almost three-quarters of the Indonesian population aged ten years or older were literate (Nababan 1983). This paper will examine the sociolinguistic and historical context in which this dramatic increase in literacy has occurred, focusing in particular on the crucial role played by Bahasa Indonesia, the national language. Current efforts to extend literacy further among the population through non-formal education programs and to expand reading and writing skills in the school system will also be discussed.