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This study aims to analyze in depth the cultural construction of independence in Islamic boarding schools through the perspective of educational sociology. The main focus of this study is to explore how social structures, power relations between kyai and santri, and hidden curriculum mechanisms contribute significantly to the formation of santri's independent character. This research is motivated by the discrepancy between national educational goals and the reality of the crisis of independence often found in formal educational institutions. Using descriptive qualitative methods through a literature study and critical synthesis approach, this study examines the phenomenon of independence as a sociological product. The results of the study show that the independence of santri is not merely obedience to formal rules, but rather the result of the formation of internalized habitus through strict daily discipline and the accumulation of cultural capital transmitted by the figure of the kyai. These findings confirm that the charismatic relationship between kyai and santri serves as the main channel for transmitting the values of initiative and responsibility. Furthermore, the hidden curriculum manifested in the daily exemplary behavior of the kyai has proven to be more effective in shaping the autonomy of santri than conventional classroom instruction. The implications of this study confirm that the educational ecosystem model in Islamic boarding schools can serve as a strategic reference for modern educational institutions in overcoming the challenges of character degradation and independence among students in the contemporary era.

The growing demand for integrated Islamic schools to deliver high-quality education that emphasizes both academic excellence and character development has encouraged the adoption of Total Quality Management (TQM) as a modern and relevant management approach. TQM is considered appropriate because it highlights continuous improvement, active involvement of all school members, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction within the educational context. This study aims to analyze the implementation of TQM in improving school quality at three integrated Islamic junior high schools: SMP IT Al-Khoiriyyah, SMP IT Nurul Islam, and SMP IT Baitul Anshor. The research employed a qualitative method using a multi-case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, direct observations, and document analysis involving principals, vice principals, teachers, educational staff, students, and parents. Data analysis followed the stages of reduction, presentation, and inductive conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that TQM implementation in all three schools followed four main stages: planning, organizing, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. During planning, TQM principles were embedded in School Work Plans, the PDCA cycle was applied, and stakeholders were actively involved. Organizing focused on quality-based structures, clear task distribution, and teamwork. Implementation included quality-oriented learning, teacher development, extracurricular activities, and integrated Islamic programs, while monitoring involved supervision, internal audits, evaluation meetings, and feedback systems. Supporting factors included visionary leadership, Islamic work culture, and parental support, while challenges involved limited facilities, uneven teacher competencies, and heavy workloads.

The globalization era presents considerable challenges to the development of Islamic identity among university students. Technological progress, intercultural interaction, and exposure to various ideologies significantly affect students’ values and moral orientations. This study aims to analyze the Aqidah Akhlak paradigm as a framework for reinforcing students’ Islamic identity within the global context. This research applies a qualitative method through library research by examining classical and contemporary Islamic educational literature as well as relevant scholarly works. The findings demonstrate that the Aqidah Akhlak paradigm, which combines solid theological belief (aqidah) with moral character development (akhlak), plays an essential role in cultivating spiritual strength, ethical consciousness, and social responsibility. The reinforcement of Islamic identity is not limited to religious rituals, but also includes the internalization of faith-based values and the consistent application of moral principles in academic and social environments. Therefore, a contextual and integrated approach to Aqidah Akhlak education is necessary to develop intellectually competent and ethically grounded Muslim students in the era of globalization.

Developing students' creativity at the elementary school level is an important part of shaping 21st century character and skills. One approach that can be taken is through hand training with cardboard and printed images. This student service activity aims to train the creativity of fourth grade students at SDN 3 Palangka through cardboard weaving training as an innovative learning medium. This activity is motivated by the need for more interesting, active, and enjoyable learning for students. The training is carried out through several stages, namely the compaction of basic weaving techniques, independent practice by students, and evaluation of the work produced. Students are given the freedom to be creative using pieces of used cardboard, with direct guidance from the implementation team and accompanying teachers. The results of the activity show that students are very enthusiastic about participating in this activity. They are able to produce various simple new forms with creative displays that can be used as visual aids in the learning process. In addition to producing work, this activity also forms positive student character such as cooperation, responsibility, perseverance, and courage in displaying work. This activity proves that skills-based training can be a solution to present more lively and meaningful learning. Therefore, this kind of activity is very relevant to be continued and developed as part of a sustainable school program.

The emergence of smartphone technology has brought significant changes to the world of education while simultaneously creating new challenges for teachers. This study aims to identify and analyze the challenges teachers face in the learning process following the widespread use of smartphones by students. The method used was a literature review, examining various sources on digital learning, student behavior, and the impact of technology on the educational process. The results indicate that teachers face various challenges, including student concentration disruptions due to entertainment content, over-reliance on technology, student access to age-inappropriate content, lack of parental supervision, unequal access to devices, and the emergence of digital ethics issues such as social media misuse and cyberbullying. These conditions require teachers to have stronger digital competencies, adaptive classroom management skills, and pedagogical strategies that balance technology use with character building and healthy digital discipline. To address these challenges, four main strategies can be implemented: enhancing digital competence, integrating character values in technology use, innovating learning methods, and building collaboration among teachers in designing digital learning.

This study examines the role of Pancasila as a source of values in national character education amid the challenges of globalization and digital disruption. Pancasila, as the ideology and foundation of the state, contains universal values derived from local wisdom and the nation's culture. However, the implementation of these values in formal education remains formalistic and does not sufficiently touch the internalization aspects of students. Through a descriptive-analytical qualitative approach with ideological and normative dimensions, this study involved teachers, students, and educational stakeholders in Central Java. Data collection techniques included interviews, observations, and document studies, with thematic analysis based on the principles of Pancasila and Islamic law principles. The study results indicate that Pancasila-based character education requires a pedagogical transformation that is contextual, participatory, and grounded in real-life experiences.Pancasila must be actualized as a way of life through adaptive educational practices, thereby forming a generation that is of integrity, responsible, and mature both morally and socially.

The Merdeka Curriculum is a curriculum designed to provide flexibility to educational units in developing student-centered learning, including in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) subjects. This research aims to describe the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and analyze its impact on PAI learning at Manu Putra Buntet Pesantren Islamic School. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques in the form of observation and interviews with the school's Vice Principal for Curriculum. The results show that the Merdeka Curriculum has been implemented in grades X and XI, while grade XII still uses the 2013 Curriculum due to an unfinished transition process. In its implementation, this curriculum strives to encourage student activity and integrate Islamic values according to the characteristics of the pesantren (Islamic boarding school) environment. However, students' adaptation to the active learning model is not yet optimal, so learning still tends to be teacher-centered. In addition, limitations in facilities and infrastructure such as projectors and technological devices also hinder the full implementation of innovative methods. Overall, the Merdeka Curriculum has a positive impact on strengthening religious character and contextualizing PAI learning but requires improved facilities and further mentoring for teachers and students so that the curriculum's goals can be optimally achieved.

Islamic Religious Education (PAI) plays a strategic role in shaping students’ character and developing their religious potential. However, religious learning often becomes less engaging if not presented creatively. The PAI Festival (Pentas PAI) in Karangharja Village, Pagelaran District, Cianjur Regency, was implemented to explore and foster students’ religious talents and interests through Islamic-themed competitions. This program applied the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, focusing on mobilizing community religious assets such as Islamic teachers, preachers, and local religious institutions. The implementation consisted of five stages: discover, dream, design, define, and destiny. The results indicate that Pentas PAI effectively served as a medium for students to express their religious abilities, enhance enthusiasm for learning religion, and cultivate Islamic character values such as responsibility, sportsmanship, and confidence. Furthermore, the activity strengthened collaboration among schools, communities, and families in supporting religious education. By optimizing local assets and community participation, Pentas PAI successfully created an engaging and sustainable model of religious education at the village level.

School cleanliness is a fundamental aspect in creating a healthy, comfortable, and character-based learning environment. This community service activity aims to raise students’ awareness of the importance of maintaining school environmental hygiene through a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach conducted at MDTA Nurul Huda, Padamaju Village, Pagelaran District, Cianjur Regency. The activity consisted of several stages: observation, educational counseling, collaborative cleaning activities, and participatory evaluation. The results show an increased awareness among students of the importance of cleanliness, a more organized school environment, and active involvement of teachers and students in maintaining school facilities. Teachers served as role models who significantly influenced students’ clean habits. The activity also affirmed the integration of Islamic values in hygiene education, aligning with the principle of an-nadhafah minal iman (cleanliness is part of faith). Therefore, the school cleanliness education program at MDTA Nurul Huda is not merely a physical cleaning action but also a sustainable form of character education based on spiritual and social values.

This article offers a philosophical exploration of two classical concepts of self-control: zuhud in Islamic intellectual tradition and apatheia in Stoic philosophy, within the framework of modern character education. Using a qualitative library research approach, this study employs content analysis and philosophical hermeneutics to examine the works of key thinkers such as Al-Ghazali, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus. The findings indicate that zuhud emphasizes detachment from material desires through spiritual awareness and prioritization of divine values, while apatheia focuses on achieving inner peace and moral clarity by rationally managing emotions and eliminating unnecessary passions. Although rooted in different theological worldviews, both concepts converge in promoting a form of self-control that enhances inner freedom, ethical behavior, and self-discipline. This study argues that the integration of zuhud and apatheia can enrich contemporary character education by balancing rational moral reasoning with spiritual consciousness. The educational model proposed in this research emphasizes the importance of teaching students to reflect critically, regulate their emotions, and cultivate inner balance rooted in universal ethical values. Thus, the synthesis of both traditions contributes to the advancement of character education that is holistic, contemplative, and morally grounded.

This study was motivated by the importance of dance in fostering aesthetic sensitivity, discipline, and cultural character in the younger generation. However, dance teaching practices in Indonesia are generally uniform and do not take into account the age and developmental stages of students, resulting in suboptimal learning outcomes. Several previous studies (Budiman et al., 2022; Da Ary & Markamah, 2024; Yuliyanti & Budiman, 2023) have shown the weaknesses of dance teaching methods that do not adapt to the characteristics of the participants, resulting in low mastery of techniques, motivation, and understanding of cultural values. Based on these issues, this study aims to examine the application of content, process, and product differentiation in dance learning at the Sobokartti Dance Studio in Semarang, which trains participants aged 4 to 25 years. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The results of the study show the application of teaching that is tailored to age characteristics, ranging from imitative movements in children to reflection on cultural values in adults. These findings prove that differentiated teaching methods are effective in improving the relevance and quality of traditional dance learning. The implication is that this model can be used as a reference for non-formal educational institutions in developing adaptive arts learning that is oriented towards the preservation of local culture.

The advancement of digital technology has brought crucial impacts on the transformation of the learning process and the formation of student identity. Teachers as educators are required to have appropriate strategies to ensure that technological progress can be utilized positively in character building. This study aims to identify and evaluate teachers' pedagogical strategies implemented in shaping students' character integrity in the context of the digital era. The method used was a literature study by examining theories, journals, books, and relevant research on teacher strategies and character education applicable in the digital era context. The results indicate that effective strategies include integrating character education in digital learning, teacher role modeling in technology use, habituation of ethical behavior in cyberspace, and collaboration with parents in monitoring students' digital activities. The role playing strategy proves effective as a learning method that can help students face various digital situations wisely and responsibly. Teachers have a central role in guiding students to be able to use technology wisely and with character, not only focusing on academic achievement but also on character development that is relevant to 21st-century needs.

This study explores the role of Christian religious education teachers in shaping students’ character within the school setting. Employing a literature review method, the research analyzes secondary sources that discuss character formation theories grounded in Biblical principles and Christian education approaches. Key values examined include love, honesty, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion, which are integrated into the learning process. The findings reveal that Christian religious education teachers hold a crucial position as educators, mentors, and role models, responsible for guiding students in internalizing these values. Character development is fostered not only through formal lessons but also through teachers’ personal example, the incorporation of Biblical teachings into classroom activities, and the encouragement of practical faith expressions in daily life. This holistic approach ensures that students not only understand Christian moral principles cognitively but also embody them in behavior and interactions with others. The study emphasizes that effective character formation relies on consistent modeling of values by teachers, meaningful integration of religious teachings into pedagogy, and opportunities for students to practice faith-based actions, thereby strengthening both moral awareness and ethical conduct.

One persistent challenge in Indonesian education is the insufficient internalization of character values among students, which can affect the overall quality of graduates. This study aims to explore the management of character education in enhancing graduate quality at Al-Ittihad Senior High School Cianjur and Ciranjang 1 Public Senior High School. The research adopts a qualitative approach using a multi-case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis to obtain a comprehensive understanding of character education practices in both institutions. The findings indicate that both schools emphasize the development of strong academic character and religious or moral awareness, although through different approaches. Al-Ittihad Senior High School integrates the national curriculum with Islamic boarding school values through boarding programs, structured worship routines, and daily religious habits. In contrast, Ciranjang 1 Public Senior High School implements character education based on its BIJAK’S vision, which is embedded in intracurricular and extracurricular activities as well as positive daily habits. Organizationally, Al-Ittihad involves close collaboration between the principal, teachers, and boarding school supervisors, while Ciranjang 1 relies more on a formal public school structure, with the vice principal for student affairs and supervising teachers playing key roles. Implementation at Al-Ittihad is centered on boarding school life, whereas Ciranjang 1 focuses on the BIJAK’S program emphasizing discipline, achievement, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Supervision and evaluation at Al-Ittihad are conducted intensively by teachers, dormitory supervisors, and parents, while Ciranjang 1 applies regular teacher meetings, program evaluations, and parental involvement to monitor character development.

The digital era is characterized by the widespread use of gadgets in daily life. In this era, gadgets also play a crucial role in building Pancasila character. This study explores the role of gadgets in shaping Pancasila character in students, focusing on both the positive and negative impacts and the opportunities available. Using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, the study draws on secondary data from various national journals. Data collection was conducted through observation and note-taking, with validation using triangulation. The findings reveal that gadgets significantly contribute to shaping intelligent students who embody Pancasila values in the digital era. The study identifies four key roles of gadgets: 1) providing access to information and knowledge, 2) fostering collaboration and communication, 3) supporting the development of digital skills, and 4) promoting the formation of Pancasila character. The study concludes that gadgets are instrumental in enhancing students' learning and character development in the digital age.

Student discipline is one of the key indicators of a school’s success in shaping character and creating a conducive learning environment. Discipline not only reflects compliance with school regulations but also demonstrates responsibility, honesty, orderliness, and self-control as part of character building. However, in practice, various disciplinary violations are still frequently found among students, such as lateness, failure to complete assignments, truancy, and noncompliance with school dress codes. These issues are also evident at SMA Kristen Palangka Raya, particularly among Grade XI students. Therefore, the role of the school principal as an educational leader is essential in implementing effective strategies to improve student discipline. This study aims to describe the role of the principal in enhancing student discipline among Grade XI students at SMA Kristen Palangka Raya. The research employed a qualitative descriptive method with data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The participants included the principal, vice principal for student affairs, teachers, and students. The findings revealed that the principal performs several roles: (1) educator, by integrating discipline values through learning activities and character-building programs; (2) manager, by organizing, planning, and implementing school regulations; (3) supervisor, by monitoring and evaluating student discipline; (4) leader, by providing direction and exemplary behavior; and (5) motivator, by giving appreciation and educational sanctions. Challenges encountered include students’ low awareness of discipline and lack of parental involvement. To overcome these obstacles, the principal builds stronger communication with parents, enforces school rules consistently, and conducts continuous character development programs.

Islamic Religious Education (PAI) plays a crucial role in shaping students’ character and religious values, including moderate attitudes in practicing religion. This study aims to analyze the implementation of Project Based Learning (PBL) in PAI as a means to strengthen moderate character and integrate religious moderation values through student collaborative projects. The research employs a literature review approach, collecting data from various scientific literature, journals, books, theses, and dissertations relevant to the topic. Data analysis is conducted using content analysis and narrative synthesis, applying both deductive and inductive reasoning. The findings indicate that PBL allows students to actively engage in contextual real-life projects, making the understanding of Islamic teachings more applicable and reflective. PBL also promotes the internalization of religious moderation values through collaboration and discussion among students, while reinforcing moderate character by developing social skills, empathy, and inclusive attitudes. Despite challenges such as limited resources and teacher readiness, appropriate implementation strategies can optimize the effectiveness of PBL in PAI. Therefore, PBL functions not only as a learning method but also as a transformative pedagogical strategy that shapes a generation of Muslim students who are knowledgeable, tolerant, and moderate.

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the sorogan and bandongan methods in Islamic boarding school (pesantren) learning through the perspective of educational psychology. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach based on library research, this study explores the relevance of these traditional teaching methods to behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist learning theories. The findings reveal that the sorogan method, which emphasizes personal interaction between students (santri) and teachers (kiai), plays a crucial role in improving reading accuracy, learning discipline, independence, and metacognitive abilities. Meanwhile, the bandongan method, which is conducted collectively, proves effective in strengthening conceptual understanding, fostering social learning, and internalizing moral and spiritual values within a communal context. The integration of these two methods represents a synergy between the intellectual tradition of pesantren and the principles of modern educational psychology that emphasize affective, cognitive, and psychomotor aspects. The results indicate that the combined application of sorogan and bandongan can support the development of an adaptive pesantren curriculum aligned with the demands of 21st-century education while maintaining the Islamic scholarly tradition that serves as the foundation for character formation and personal development.

This study aims to describe the experiences of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) teachers in facing multicultural challenges at MA Al Wardah Tembung. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The results show that PAI teachers successfully manage student diversity through empathetic, inclusive, and contextual approaches. They instill the values of tolerance, brotherhood, and religious moderation, creating a harmonious learning atmosphere. Diversity in the school becomes a potential strength that enriches the learning process and shapes students’ open-minded and respectful character.

The Independent Community Service Program (KKN) of the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara at MDTA Yayasan Pendidikan Islam Al-Muttaqin, in Tanjung Rejo Village, Medan Sunggal District, was held from September 1–13, 2025, as a form of student dedication to strengthening religious education in the community. This program focuses on the development of Quranic reading and fiqh of congregational prayer, aiming to foster students' love for worship and deepen their understanding of Islamic teachings. The methods used include a participatory approach through Quran learning activities, practicing wudu, congregational prayer, and teaching the exemplary stories of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad Saw. In addition to religious guidance, social activities such as group exercise, mutual cooperation, and the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday were also conducted to build harmonious relationships between students and the local community. The results of the activities show an improvement in students' religious abilities in Quranic reading and congregational prayer, as well as a deeper spiritual awareness. This KKN program is a concrete example of the synergy between education, da'wah, and community service in building students' character and faith in the MDTA Yayasan Pendidikan Islam Al-Muttaqin environment.