Educational Comics Based-Local Folktales and Its Effects on Reading Literacy of Rural Primary School Students

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

Reading is presented as a foundational literacy shaping students’ intellectual development, while Indonesian learners’ reading competence is described as notably low across international and national surveys. This study investigates whether educational comics based on local folktales can improve reading literacy among rural primary school students. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design with a non-equivalent control group is used, and t-tests analyze paper-and-pencil reading literacy data. Findings indicate a significant positive effect, supported by contextual understanding facilitated by images.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background: reading literacy challenges

Study rationale and objectives

Method

Research design and participants

Sampling and instructional intervention

Instruments and data analysis

Results and Discussion

Effects on reading literacy competency

Conclusion

Recommendations for teachers

Anatolian Journal ofEducation e-ISSN: 2547-9652 October 2024 ● Vol.9, No.2 [www.e-aje.net](www.e-aje.net)[ ](www.e-aje.net)pp. 127-138 Educational Comics Based-Local Folktales and Its Effects on Reading Literacy of Rural Primary School Students Sumarwati Prof., Indonesian Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia, [sumarwati@staff.uns.ac.id](sumarwati@staff.uns.ac.id) Hadiyah Assoc. Prof., Primary Teacher Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and, Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia, [hadiyah@staff.uns.ac.id](hadiyah@staff.uns.ac.id) Nani Muftihah Student, Indonesian Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia, [nanimuftihah17i@student.uns.ac.id](nanimuftihah17i@student.uns.ac.id) Sumaiyah Menjamin Asst. Prof., Jabatan Bahasa Melayu, Fakultas Sastara dan Kemasyarakatan, Fatoni University, Thailand, [sumaiyah@ftu.ac.th](sumaiyah@ftu.ac.th) Reading is a basic literacy that plays an important role in the intellectual development of students. Based on various surveys, it was identified that the reading competence of Indonesian students was very low. The research aims was to implement educative comics based on local folktale and examine its effect on increasing reading literacy of in rural rural primary school students. The research is a quasi-experimental design with pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group design. The participants were 3rd grade elementary school students in rural Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Sampling was done by purposive sampling and cluster random sampling technique. There were 58 students in the experimental group and 56 students in the control group from 2 different elementary schools, but their qualifications were both in the good category. In learning to read, the experimental group used educational comic books containing local folktales while the control group used texts containing local folktale. Reading literacy competency data was obtained through paper and pencil tests. The data obtained were analysed descriptively and inferentially using t-test. The results of the study prove that there is a significant effect of educational comics based on local folktale on students' reading literacy competence. Local folktale supported by images is suspected to facilitate the availability of context so that the substance of the text is easier to understand. Therefore, teachers are advised to use image support in learning to cover learning losses due to the pandemic, especially in rural schools which experience many obstacles in distance learning. Keywords: comics based-local folktales, reading literacy, rural, primary students, educational comics INTRODUCTION In the era of education 5.0, the rapid progress of science requires every student to have more adequate reading literacy skills in order to have sufficient insight and knowledge to be able to compete and keep up with the times (Riyadi, 2021: 110). Reading literacy ability is one of the determinants of one's success. This is because all access to information and knowledge is always related to reading & writing activities (Bayhan, 2006: 10) . Afflerbach (2009: 70) states that reading literacy skills are Citation: Sumarwati., Hadiyah., Muftihah, N., & Menjamin, S. (2024) . Educational comics based-local folktales and its effects on reading literacy of rural primary school students . Anatolian Journal of Education, 9(2), 127-138. [https://doi.org/10.29333/aje.2024.9211a](https://doi.org/10.29333/aje.2024.9211a) 128 Educational Comics Based-Local Folktales and Its Effects … something that is fundamental in students' lives. Likewise, Burke, and Baillie (2011: 2) state that reading literacy skills taught from an early age can support the learning process at a higher level. Bowcher and Zhang (2020: 1) state that at some point in early learning, children need to learn how to read, and

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study?

The study aims to implement educational comics based on local folktales and examine their effect on improving reading literacy among rural primary school students.

How was the research designed and who participated?

The research uses a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test non-equivalent control group. Participants were 3rd grade elementary students from rural Karanganyar Regency, Central Java.

What materials were used for the experimental and control groups?

The experimental group used educational comic books containing local folktales, while the control group used texts containing local folktales.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel