Students’ numeracy skills in solving numeracy tasks: Analysis of students of junior high schools

Abstract

The Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia has set the Minimum Competency Assessment (MCA) to focus on, among others, numeracy skills, namely the ability to use mathematics to solve everyday problems in various contexts. This study aimed to determine students' numeracy skills in completing numeracy tasks using a quantitative approach with a descriptive method. The researchers involved 150 students of junior high schools in East Java by asking them to solve some numeracy problems online via the Google Form (for those from regular schools) and offline through a paper-based test (PBT) (for those from boarding schools). The results showed that of all the students, 62%, 30%, and 8% were at the surface numeracy skills (SNS), the intermediate numeracy skills (INS), and the deeper numeracy skills (DNS) levels, respectively. These figures found showed the poor abilities of junior high school students to complete numeracy problems. Teachers, therefore, should apply numeracy task-oriented learning experiences, such as constructivist teaching methods, to improve students' numeracy skills.