Economic literacy of students in secondary schools

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the level of economic literacy of students at the secondary school level on the basis of their perceptions. Through this study, economic literacy can be described in real economic situations that exist in students' daily lives. In addition, this study explains the level of economic literacy of students in secondary schools on the basis of differences in gender and grade level. This study was conducted with 457 secondary school students who participated (male = 193, female = 264). The research instrument was a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. The indicators used to measure the level of literacy of school students are adapted from the content standards of economic education, consisting of scarcity, decision-making, allocation, incentives, specialization, markets and prices, competition and market structure, institutions, money, opportunity costs, and interdependence. The data were analyzed in terms of the frequency distribution and mean. The mean analysis is divided into categories so that the student's level of economic literacy can be interpreted. The results of the study revealed that the level of economic literacy of students was moderate. There are differences in the level of economic literacy across genders. In addition, the results revealed no difference in the level of economic literacy of secondary school students based on grade level. This study confirms that students' economic literacy can be assessed on the basis of their perceptions of the economic activities they perform in their daily lives.