The influence of the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project in Mathematics Learning on the Merdeka Curriculum on Students' Problem-Solving Skills

Abstract

Education is a process of developing students' potential, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In mathematics learning, problem-solving ability is the main goal that must be achieved. However, many students still consider mathematics to be a difficult and boring subject, which affects their learning outcomes. This study aims to determine the effect of the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) in mathematics learning within the Independent Curriculum on students' problem-solving abilities. The research method used is a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design of the pretest-posttest one group design type. The research sample consisted of 30 eighth-grade students from class VIII A SMPN 1 Tragah, selected using the total sampling technique. The instruments used were pretest and posttest questions, and data analysis was conducted through normality tests, paired sample t-tests, and N-Gain calculations. The research results showed a significant increase in posttest scores compared to pretest scores (p<0.05), with an average N-Gain of 79.24, which falls into the high category. This indicates that the P5 project is effective in improving students' mathematical problem-solving skills. Further analysis shows that students with initially low scores experienced the most significant improvement. The discussion emphasizes that project-based learning like P5 not only enhances students' cognitive abilities but also shapes character through Pancasila values. Thus, the implementation of P5 in the Merdeka Curriculum can be an effective learning strategy in improving student learning outcomes and character development.