Kilas Pendidikan Edition 20 presents the findings of a study on the profile of literacy and numeracy in Kabupaten Probolinggo. Using the PEMANTIK instrument (PSPK’s Self-Assessment Tool for Numeracy and Literacy), PSPK conducted this study as part of the Kolaborasi Literasi Bermakna (KLB), one of INOVASI’s partners in East Java.

INOVASI (Innovation for Indonesia’s School Children) is an education partnership program between the Governments of Indonesia and Australia aimed at identifying and understanding effective ways to improve primary school students’ learning outcomes—particularly in literacy, numeracy, and inclusive education. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture, INOVASI partnered with 17 districts across the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, and East Java. The program ran from 2016 to 2019 and was managed by Palladium on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Since July 2018, INOVASI has collaborated with various education organizations in Indonesia to support its goal of improving primary school learning outcomes.

Overall, the study findings indicate that most students demonstrated the ability to comprehend short texts and perform subtraction without borrowing. These outcomes were largely influenced by grade level, with students in higher grades showing stronger literacy and numeracy skills. On the other hand, the study found that factors outside school—such as socioeconomic status (SES)—did not significantly predict student achievement. This suggests the substantial role of schools in Kabupaten Probolinggo in developing children’s literacy and numeracy skills. In other words, within the context of this study, schools are highly relied upon in children’s education.

Based on these findings, further recommendations are needed, particularly regarding the division of roles between schools and families/parents in supporting children’s education.

The full study can be downloaded here: