Revitalising Literacy as Provision for Facing Globalisation

       In today's era of globalisation, science and technology are developing rapidly. We can receive any information easily and quickly. In the same way, foreign cultures enter with ease. All of these forms of technology have influenced the culture and way of life of society, the nation and the state, especially in big cities. Urban communities tend to be more open than rural communities. In addition, there are supporting facilities and infrastructure and intermediaries that play a major role in the development of technology and information in cities. This makes it easy for foreign cultures to enter people's lives. Unfortunately, not all of the foreign cultures that come in are positive; most are in fact negative and even contrary to Pancasila, which can trigger radicalism. 
       The millennial generation, especially in urban areas, will always follow the current of globalisation and receive all kinds of information very easily. This is because social media today allows every user to receive whatever information they want with a single click. However, this ease also brings a very large negative impact on society. This is because people, especially millennials, are not taking in positive information but instead taking in and absorbing negative information. The information taken in takes the form of foreign cultures that deviate from the values of Pancasila and, if left unchecked, will destroy Indonesia from within. Therefore, we need to filter every foreign culture that enters, taking the good and discarding the bad. To be able to filter foreign cultures, intellectual ability and skill, as well as attitude, are needed. 
       One way to cultivate intellectual skill and attitude is through literacy. Literacy gives many benefits to all generations, not only the young. Through literacy activities a person gains a great deal of information and knowledge, and their horizons broaden. Indirectly, this can sharpen the way they think, and if done regularly a person's intellectual skills can improve. Not only intellectual intelligence can increase, but mental attitude is also shaped by literacy activities. Valuing time, being disciplined and respecting others can all be formed through literacy. This attitude is what will become the bridge that enables us to filter the foreign cultures that arise from the current of globalisation. 
       Literacy here is not limited to the ability to read and write. UNESCO also explains that literacy includes the ability to identify, understand, communicate and calculate with printed and written materials in various contexts. So the literacy meant here also covers the ability and skill to use digital media to find, evaluate and use information wisely. We can gain a great deal of knowledge with just one click. We must take advantage of this easy access to develop our own potential in order to advance the life of the nation. However, there are still many people who instead use the sophistication of the age for things that are not good and even stray far from the values of Pancasila. This is where literacy acts as a filter for the information and foreign cultures that enter Indonesia. 
       Literacy is actually not something new; it has even existed since the colonial era. It cannot be denied that the colonial powers also played an important role in literacy in Indonesia at that time. However, today the existence of literacy is starting to be neglected in the eyes of the public. The cause is none other than globalisation. People assume that literacy is not important because, in their view, literacy is only about reading books. This view must be changed because literacy has a broad meaning and is not only about reading books. Therefore, literacy needs to be revitalised in order to create high-quality human resources oriented towards the future. The revitalisation of literacy needs to be promoted at all levels of society, especially among millennials, considering that the reading interest of Indonesians is very low compared with other countries. Based on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), newly released in 2019, Indonesia's reading score ranked 72nd out of 77 countries.
       The revitalisation of literacy can begin at school because young people spend much of their time at school. Moreover, school is also a place of learning, so the first step in revitalising literacy can be taken at school. Teachers, as role models for students, must be able to set a good example of literacy and weave a culture of literacy into every lesson as well as outside learning activities. For example, making it a habit to read for 15 minutes every morning before lessons begin. Then, holding extracurricular writing activities and so on. These small steps, if done regularly and continuously, will become something big. Instilling a culture of literacy truly cannot be done instantly; it takes time and a gradual process. 
       Besides school, the home is also one of the right places to re-instil a culture of literacy. Everyone surely regards home as the most comfortable place to rest or enjoy free time. It is from here that a culture of literacy is instilled as a continuation of the literacy instilled at school, because literacy can be practised anywhere, not only at school. To re-instil a culture of literacy at home, parents make a big contribution to its success. Parents can advise their children to read and limit their use of mobile phones. This is because mobile phones are a poison for the younger generation, making them reluctant to read and slowly abandon the culture of literacy. 
       A culture of literacy is one of the provisions millennials need to face globalisation and to carry Indonesia forward. Literacy is a basic necessity that every human being must have in order to survive amid the current of globalisation. The ever more difficult challenges of the age require everyone to have the ability and skill to answer them. A culture of literacy has a good impact on society. This is because with literacy, horizons broaden and minds open, which improves thinking ability and the ability to see things. Thus, a person who applies a culture of literacy in their life will be able to respond to things critically and will not be easily influenced. This is the reason why Indonesia needs to revive the culture of literacy among its people.
       Literacy is the first step towards producing an outstanding generation that will lead Indonesia towards change. As we can see today, people, especially the younger generation, are more preoccupied with their mobile phones. From children to the elderly, on average everyone has a mobile phone and, wherever they are, they are sure to be busy with this small device. If it is used for something useful, there is no problem. However, in reality people use mobile phones for things that are not very useful, such as playing games, watching films and being active on social media without any clear purpose. One can imagine what Indonesia will be like five years from now if its people are like that. Therefore, Indonesia needs to promote the revitalisation of literacy at all levels of society in order to face globalisation. The government, teachers and parents must also continually instil a culture of literacy and educate the public about the importance of literacy, so that together they can lead Indonesia towards change, compete with the global world without abandoning the nation's identity, and survive amid the current of globalisation.