Peningkatan Literasi Bagi Siswa SD di Desa Watumaeta, Kecamatan Lore Utara, Kabupaten Poso - Kasim, Anita Ahmad; Nur, Sri Khaerawati; Jayanto, Deni Luvi; Yulandari, Anisa; Saputra, Sabarudin (Lembaga Penelitian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (LITPAM), 2025)
Kesenjangan pendidikan di wilayah terpencil yang disebabkan oleh keterbatasan akses dan ekonomi menghalangi anak-anak memperoleh pendidikan dasar yang layak, padahal pendidikan merupakan fondasi penting untuk membentuk karakter dan mencerdaskan kehidupan bangsa sesuai amanat UUD 1945. Kemampuan literasi merupakan keterampilan dasar yang berperan penting dalam mendukung keberhasilan siswa pada jenjang pendidikan berikutnya. Namun, siswa sekolah dasar di daerah pedesaan, termasuk di Desa Watumaeta, Kecamatan Lore Utara, Kabupaten Poso, masih menghadapi tantangan serius dalam keterampilan membaca dan memahami teks. Keterbatasan bahan bacaan, minimnya sarana literasi, metode pengajaran yang konvensional, serta rendahnya dukungan dari lingkungan keluarga menjadi faktor utama yang menghambat perkembangan literasi anak. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut, kegiatan pengabdian ini dilaksanakan dengan tujuan meningkatkan literasi siswa melalui penyediaan bahan bacaan tambahan, pembangunan sudut baca di kelas, serta penerapan metode pembelajaran interaktif berupa storytelling, membaca bersama, diskusi, permainan edukatif, dan literasi digital sederhana. Kegiatan dilaksanakan di SDN Watumaeta dengan melibatkan 35 siswa, guru, dan orang tua. Evaluasi dilakukan menggunakan pre-test dan post-test kemampuan membaca. Hasil menunjukkan peningkatan rata-rata skor dari 45,7 pada pre-test menjadi 70,1 pada post-test, dengan rata-rata peningkatan 24,4 poin. Selain capaian kuantitatif, temuan kualitatif memperlihatkan meningkatnya minat baca siswa, partisipasi aktif dalam kegiatan literasi, serta dukungan positif dari guru dan orang tua. Hasil ini membuktikan bahwa intervensi sederhana berbasis sarana baca dan metode interaktif efektif dalam meningkatkan kemampuan literasi siswa di daerah pedesaan. Enhancing Literacy Skills Among Elementary School Students in Watumaeta Village, Lore Utara District, Poso Regency Educational disparities in remote areas caused by limited access and economic constraints prevent children from obtaining adequate basic education, even though education is a crucial foundation for character building and advancing the nation's intellectual life in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution. Literacy skills are a fundamental competence that plays a crucial role in supporting students’ success in higher levels of education. However, elementary school students in rural areas, including Watumaeta Village, North Lore District, Poso Regency, still face serious challenges in reading and text comprehension. Limited reading materials, inadequate literacy facilities, conventional teaching methods, and lack of family support are major factors that hinder children’s literacy development. To address these issues, this community service program was implemented to improve students’ literacy through the provision of additional reading materials, the establishment of classroom reading corners, and the application of interactive learning methods such as storytelling, shared reading, group discussions, educational games, and simple digital literacy activities. The program was carried out at SDN Watumaeta involving 35 students, teachers, and parents. Evaluation was conducted using pre-test and post-test reading ability assessments. The results showed an increase in the average score from 45.7 in the pre-test to 70.1 in the post-test, with an average gain of 24.4 points. In addition to the quantitative results, qualitative findings indicated improved reading interest, more active participation in literacy activities, and strong support from teachers and parents. These outcomes demonstrate that simple interventions based on reading facilities and interactive methods are effective in enhancing students’ literacy skills in rural elementary schools.