PEMBERDAYAAN EKONOMI WARGA BELAJAR PKBM MERDEKA BANYUWANGI MELALUI PELATIHAN MEMBATIK BERBASIS SINERGI PENTAHELIX

Abstract

Life skills education serves as a strategic cornerstone in equipping equivalency education learners with economic independence and robust competitiveness within an increasingly dynamic labor market. Non-formal education graduates often face strong social stereotypes regarding their technical readiness in the workforce. This qualitative descriptive study aims to comprehensively portray the intensive vocational mentoring, skill reconstruction, and community empowerment of non-formal Package A, B, and C learners at PKBM Merdeka through hand-drawn batik-making training integrated with the Pentahelix framework. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach integrated with the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model. Data were collected via structured observations, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and extensive documentation across the five pillars of the Pentahelix ecosystem (Academia, Community, Government, Business, and Media). Data validation was secured using source and technical triangulation, followed by continuous interactive analysis encompassing data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings describe a profound transformation in the learners' psychomotor competencies. Warga belajar demonstrated total autonomy in processing batik production, from designing local motifs (Gajah Oling) to the chemical coloring and wax-releasing (nglorod) phases. It further highlights a radical shift in their entrepreneurial mindset, effectively dismantling long-standing social stigmas. Long-term sustainability is formalized through cross-sectoral Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) connecting the village government, state training centers (UPT BLK Situbondo) for formal certifications, and local business networks as product off-takers. The integrative Pentahelix-ABCD model establishes a sustainable ecosystem that transitions non-formal learners from vulnerable job seekers into active local job creators.