Cerdas Finansial Sejak Dini: Program Edukasi Literasi Keuangan bagi Santri Pondok Pesantren Tebuireng

Abstract

Financial literacy is an essential 21st-century skill that should be instilled from an early age, including in pesantren, which have unique dynamics in managing students’ pocket money. This Community Service Program (PKM) aimed to enhance the financial knowledge and behavior of Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School students through contextual simulation-based education. The program employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach involving 50 junior high school students. Methods included interactive lectures, group discussions, case studies, and daily budgeting simulations, with evaluation through pre-test, post-test, and behavioral observation. The results revealed a significant improvement in financial literacy: the proportion of students in the low category decreased from 75% to 25%, while those in the high category increased from 10% to 50%. Furthermore, behavioral changes were observed in the form of a 40% reduction in non-essential spending and a 30% increase in saving habits.