RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Secretariat General of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR) once again held the Parliamentary Literacy Festival 2026 at the House’s Library, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. This year's festival carries the theme “Cultural Literacy for Democracy.”

The event is part of an effort to strengthen literacy culture while instilling national and democratic values within society, as reported by dpr.go.id.

Acting Secretary General of the House, Suprihartini, affirmed that a high-quality democracy requires a society with strong literacy skills. According to her, citizens who can critically understand and manage information are better prepared to participate responsibly in democratic life.

“True democracy grows from the quality of its citizens. Therefore, democracy requires an empowered society—one that is capable of critical thinking, able to discern comprehensive and accurate information, respectful of differing viewpoints, and willing to participate responsibly in the public sphere,” Suprihartini conveyed while opening the Parliamentary Literacy Festival 2026 at the DPR RI Library, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

She explained that literacy today is no longer defined merely as the ability to read and write. More than that, literacy encompasses the ability to understand, process, evaluate, and utilize information in order to make sound and informed decisions.

According to her, literacy faces even greater challenges in the digital era, where information flows rapidly. On one hand, technological advancements make it easier for people to access information. On the other hand, society is confronted with threats such as misinformation, disinformation, and social polarization, all of which can disrupt democratic life.

“Literacy prevents us from being easily swayed by unverified information, trains us to think critically, and enables us to build healthy, constructive, and productive public dialogue,” she said.

Therefore, this year’s Parliamentary Literacy Festival serves as a reflection on the importance of cultural values in strengthening democracy. Suprihartini believes that Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage is a vital form of social capital in national life, including the spirit of deliberation and consensus, mutual cooperation, tolerance, and the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).