School Literary Movement in Indonesia: Challenges for Scientific Literacy

Abstract

Reflections on the results of tests by PIRLS, TIMSS, PISA, encouraging the Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia, developed the Gerakan Literasi Sekolah (School Literary Movement). GLS aims to foster reading interest and reading skills of students. In the broader context GLS develop the school to serve as a learning organization that makes all citizens as a lifelong learner. Critical analysis of the GLS with the main program emphasizing reading skills is the first step to develop literacy which can serve as the basis development of scientific literacy. Scientific literacy is the goal of science education that need to be developed in the school. Scientific literacy has a significant role in encouraging every citizen to understand the nature of science, basic science knowledge and scientific thinking, so that they can actively participate in issues of science, technology and their impact. Critical reading, scientific writing, and scientific inquiry is a framework for development of a culture of scientific literacy. In the school literacy practices, critical reading, scientific writing, and scientific work through scientific inquiry integrated in science lesson.