West Kutai, October 7, 2026 – Following a two-week delay caused by the haze blanketing West Kutai Regency, the readability test for the bilingual (Benuaq–Indonesian) children’s picturebooks was successfully conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29–30, 2026.
This essential stage in that book publication process was held at two locations, namely SDN 003 Barang Tongkok Mencimai and SDN 001 Damai. Participants, including students, teachers, parent representatives, and officials from the Education Agency of West Kutai Regency, displayed notable enthusiasm throughout the event.
A total of 128 participants took part in the activity. They arrived in high spirits despite the earlier setbacks caused by adverse environmental conditions.
Mahmudah, a representative from the Education Agency, explained that the two-week postponement was a difficult decision but one that had to be made to ensure everyone’s safety.
“We were forced to postpone the original schedule by two weeks because the air quality index in West Kutai had reached hazardous levels due to dense haze. The health of the children and all participants was our priority. Fortunately, by September 29 and 30, the air quality had improved sufficiently, allowing us to carry out the activity while maintaining health protocols,” said Mahmudah.
The readability test involved some parties. Beyond the participation of students and teachers, the presence of parents and Education Agency’s representatives demonstrated a shared commitment to evaluating the books to ensure they were appropriate for the comprehension levels and cultural context of students in West Kutai.
At SDN 003 Barang Tongkok Mencimai, the trial session was conducted effectively. Students, teachers, parents, and Education Agency’s representatives were asked to read the books, provide feedback, and complete an assessment rubric. A similar activity took place at SDN 001 Damai, where teachers from SDN 004 Damai also participated in evaluating the materials.
A parent representative who was attending the event commended the Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan team for resuming the activity as soon as air quality conditions permitted.
“We are pleased that this event finally took place. As parents, we want to know which books are suitable for our children to read at home and at school—especially after they spent several weeks learning from home due to the haze,” the parent said.
The results of the readability test are expected to form the basis for the team as they proceed with the publication of the books. Furthermore, these bilingual children’s picturebooks will provide targeted literacy support for students in West Kutai while helping to restore students’ enthusiasm for learning, which had been disrupted by the recent haze crisis. (ed)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma