Building character education based on school culture in elementary schools: A qualitative study

Abstract

The importance of character education has become one of the main programs in school development. Character education aims to develop a person’s character, making them better individuals. This form of education is crucial for everyone as it guides human behavior and expression in society. The development of character education based on school culture reflects the motivations and character values that grow within the school environment, involving the traditions of individuals in the educational setting.  This research is a qualitative descriptive study with the aim of understanding the implementation of character education based on school culture. The research subjects included school principals and teachers from three schools in the Yogyakarta region, namely Elementary School A, Elementary School B, Elementary School C. Data collection techniques involved observation, interviews, and document analysis. The gathered data was then analyzed through thematic analysis, involving data grouping and interpretation stages. The research results indicate that the three schools adopt different approaches, adjusting to the specific conditions of their respective school environments. The character development goals of each school also exhibit slight differences. The implementation of character education based on school culture is influenced by several factors, such as school leadership, the resources of teachers and staff, the availability of facilities and infrastructure, parental support, and the community environment.