Difficulty analysis of numerical ability of indigenous Papuans (Marind and Kanum Tribes) in Yanggandur and Wasur Villages, Merauke Regency

Abstract


INTRODUCTION
Indonesian citizens come from various socio-cultural backgrounds distinct from one another (Rais et al., 2018). Merauke Regency, which is nearly the size of Java Island, has a diverse natural environment and is home to tribes with diverse cultures. Merauke Regency's major tribes include the Marind tribe, the Kanum tribe, the Muyu tribe, the Kimam tribe, and others. These tribes' mathematical abilities differ.
Mathematics is one of the fundamental sciences that plays an important role in everyday life and modern technological advancement today (Anwar, 2018;Suandito, 2017). Because of its importance, mathematics is even referred to as the "root of science" (Sumarni, 2018). Mathematics emerges and is integrated into all aspects of people's lives, no matter where they are (Juano & Jediut, 2019). Mathematics is a foundation for thinking and understanding to overcome and master a wide range of social, economic, and natural problems (Supriatna, 2016;Suwardi et al., 2016;Zahra, 2019).
Mathematics is an important subject (Purwanti et al., 2016). Mathematics education is inextricably linked to the dynamics of people's lives. Some mathematics materials generally cover the discussion of problems or implementations related to the daily life approach (Zulaekhoh & Hakim, 2021). Mathematics can be found in everyday activities, often unconsciously. It should be noted that learning mathematics in school and using mathematics in everyday life is not the same thing (Abi, 2017). Because school mathematics is too formal, the mathematics children encounter in their daily lives will be very different from what they learned in school.
Each person must have unique abilities. This can impact mathematics learning outcomes (Haryono & Tanujaya, 2018). Counting is one of the many mathematical abilities that must be mastered. A child's first step in learning mathematics is the ability to count (Sari et al., 2020). To understand other abilities in mathematics, an individual must first understand the ability to count. Students with strong or rapid numeracy skills are extremely beneficial in solving math problems (Al Musthafa & Mandailina, 2018). Dyscalculia refers to learning difficulties that cause children to lose their ability to count. This difficulty will affect the students' learning outcomes. The outcomes of mathematics learning have not been as anticipated (Permanasari & Pradana, 2021). Education must influence learning outcomes (Rahmawati et al., 2021).
Numeracy is the ability to use logic, reasoning, and numbers (Khan & Yuliani, 2016). Furthermore, numeracy skills can be defined as mastery of basic arithmetic, a subset of mathematics that includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (Anshari et al., 2016;Mulyawati & Sarwinda, 2020;Mutiani & Suyadi, 2020;Ramadania et al., 2018). Two (2) factors influence a child's numeracy ability: internal and external factors. Internal factors include emotional maturity, motivation (spirit), each student's unique learning style, and student's interests and talents when participating in the learning process (Zuschaiya et al., 2021). External factors include the learning environment in the classroom, learning media, learning facilities, and socio-cultural factors. Some of these factors, such as sociocultural factors, impact the development of one's numeracy skills. This is determined by the environment in which a person lives.
Several studies on numeracy analysis have been conducted, including those by Syamsuddin et al. (2018) and Utami & Humaidi, (2019), regarding the description of the level of numeracy ability of thirdgrade students. Hasanah et al. (2021) discuss the factors that cause early numeracy difficulties in children based on internal and external factors in their research. According to various studies, difficulty in counting is caused by a person's lack of focus in following the teaching and learning process; additionally, the surrounding environment affects these abilities, adding to the difficulty in counting. The support and motivation provided, as well as aspects of physical health, attitudes, interests, and motivation, all contribute to difficulties in learning mathematics in people with dyscalculia, particularly by the family, which is required to aid a person's development in improving numeracy skills. However, no research on the analysis of numeracy difficulties for ethnic groups in the Merauke Regency has been found in the search for relevant articles, so there is an element of novelty in this research. The Marind and Kanum tribes are the focus of this investigation. According to several community leaders and similarities in customs, habits, and culture, these two tribes share a common ancestor from Papua New Guinea. The purpose of this study was to analyze the difficulties in numeracy skills of the Marind and Kanum tribal communities in Yanggandur and Wasur Villages, Merauke Regency, based on the phenomena and symptoms of the problem described above.

METHOD
This research is descriptive qualitative research. This descriptive research attempted to accurately reflect the object under consideration (Alyusfitri & Wahyuni, 2017). The researcher is the instrument in this research (human instrument) because the researcher is the determinant in data collection, analysis, and presentation. The participants in the study were residents of Yanggandur and Wasur villages in Merauke Regency, Papua Province.
Data was gathered through literature research and direct community observation in Yanggandur and Wasur Villages in Merauke Regency. Data analysis in qualitative research is done in stages and continues throughout the study. In qualitative research, data analysis techniques include data reduction (data reduction), data presentation (data display), conclusion drawing, and verification (conclusion drawing, verification) (Yanti & Syazali, 2016). These steps are summarized in the figure below.
The different ways of counting from each tribe coexists make it difficult for people to conduct large-scale transactions. According to several Merauke community leaders, the decline in counting is because everything required is already available. The Marind tribe can more easily enjoy natural wealth because of the sago tree, the trunk of which can be used as a house pole, and the bark of which can be used as a roof. The leaf stalks of the sago palm tree can be used as walls, and the leaves can be used as a roof. This enables the Marind tribe to enjoy natural wealth more easily, resulting in fewer people carrying out exchange transactions for daily necessities.
The Kanum tribe, unlike the Marind tribe, does not live near the coast, so they must rely on fish from the swamps. The Kanum tribe's staple food is kumbili (a type of tuber that grows in community gardens). After harvesting the kumbili, the community will pile it at home in piles of 6 kumbili or multiples thereof for each family member. This became the basis for the Kanum tribe to always count in groups of up to six, making it difficult for people to conduct transactions. The Kanum tribe is also closed to outsiders. For example, they are unwilling to relocate if a transmigration settlement is nearby.
Hunting and fishing are daily activities for the Marind and Kanum tribes. The community will consume the game, and any leftovers will be sold in exchange for other basic commodities. The Marind and Kanum tribes are closely related to mathematical activities in the buying and selling process. This is consistent with Pratama & Setyaningrum (2018); despite not understanding mathematics, people apply complex mathematical concepts to their daily activities. The method of counting the two tribes affects daily life. When the Marind or Kanum people go to the market, they stockpile their goods in large or large quantities. It is typically made up of four to eight stacks. This is consistent with the findings of Kou et al., (2021), who discovered that before trading, merchandise is collected based on similarity of type. However, the practice makes the buyer's life difficult in this case. For example, a single stack of turmeric costs IDR 20,000 and weighs up to 1/2 kg. Even though the buyer only requires a small amount, there is no offer to buy in quantities other than one stack, and bidding at the predetermined price is extremely difficult. This practice is similar to what occurred in the Kepatihan Market in Jember Regency, where buying and selling interactions frequently occur without any price bargaining between traders and buyers (Muzdalifah et al., 2019). Such counting patterns affect the children of the Marind and Kanum tribes. Children find it difficult and unsettling to count in large groups.
When a man wants to marry a woman in Marind society, he is not required to pay a dowry. This is also true for the Kanum tribe. The difference is that if a Kanum tribe woman marries a man from another tribe, the couple is required to stay in the Kanum tribal village. If the couple wishes to relocate to another village, the man must give up his brother or daughter to be given to the Kanum tribe as a replacement for the married woman. Among the many problems that arise, the application of the Marind and Kanum tribes' counting method has a positive value in that it can protect and maintain cultural values (Pratama & Lestari, 2017).