The Community Service Team from Universitas Indonesia, in collaboration with Cipayung 03 Ciputat Elementary School, South Tangerang, conducted a weekly literacy training program for 5th and 6th grade students who have difficulty reading. This activity aims to help students improve their basic literacy skills through a fun, interactive, and inclusive approach, while also strengthening teachers’ capacity to assist students with reading difficulties.
The principal of Cipayung 03 Elementary School, Mrs. Yulinar Hanum, explained the background of this program. It began with education report cards that showed low literacy achievement in the school, prompting efforts to improve students’ reading skills. Discussions were held with teachers to find the right solution, followed by a screening in each class to identify students who were not yet fluent or unable to read, especially in grades 4, 5, and 6. The screening revealed that there were still many students who were not yet fluent in reading, which had an impact on the low interest in reading at the school. Internal efforts were made to address this issue, but they were hampered by time constraints and the large number of students, so the results were not optimal.
Significant changes began to occur after the school was introduced to Mrs. Harwintha Y. Anjarningsih, Ph.D (the leader of the training program who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI). Through several discussions, a solution was found through the use of guidebooks compiled by her. The reading training program was then implemented every Monday, with students who needed special attention becoming the main participants. Before the program was implemented, homeroom teachers were given training on how to teach reading using these guidebooks so that the assistance could be continued on an ongoing basis by their respective teachers.
Currently, reading training activities have become a regular school program and have been running for almost a year. Through this program, it is hoped that students with reading difficulties can be helped to become more confident, understand the relationship between sounds and letters, improve their reading fluency, and be free from learning obstacles.
The training program, led by Harwintha Y. Anjarningsih, Ph.D., is conducted weekly in small groups. Each session focuses on strengthening the ability to read simple words and sentences, practicing understanding short readings, and reflective activities that foster children’s confidence in reading.
In addition to assisting students, the team also holds progress sharing sessions with teachers every few weeks to discuss student development and design further learning strategies.
“We want to help children rediscover the joy of reading. With a patient, structured, and evidence-based approach, we see real changes in their courage and fluency,” said Mrs. Harwintha.
This program is part of the Universitas Indonesia’s Community Service (PkM) activities for 2025, and has now become an inspiring model of collaboration between universities and elementary schools.
Through this activity, students also gain direct experience in applying linguistic theory and inclusive education in the field.
“Our goal is not only for children to be able to read, but for them to enjoy the process of learning to read — because that is where their confidence and enthusiasm for learning grow,” concluded Mrs. Harwintha.
The literacy mentoring program at SD Cipayung 03 Ciputat emphasizes the importance of structured, empathetic, and sustained reading interventions, as well as active collaboration between teachers and school officials. Through this synergy, it is hoped that every child—without exception—will have equal opportunities to develop through literacy. (Trans-RMRW)
