The research, conducted by Suminto and Rifo Rifat Basya and published in 2026 in the Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Holistik (JIPH), examined how schools under LP Ma’arif NU Tulungagung integrate religious traditions into daily educational activities to build moral and social values among primary school students.
The findings are increasingly relevant as educators worldwide face rising concerns about bullying, declining discipline, excessive social media exposure, and weakening respect for teachers and parents among younger generations. The researchers found that consistent religious practices and teacher role modeling helped create a school environment that encouraged positive behavior and emotional maturity.
According to the study, students who regularly participated in structured religious activities demonstrated stronger discipline, politeness, cooperation, and social awareness. The research also found that religious culture encouraged tolerance and moderate attitudes through the integration of Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah An-Nahdliyah values within school life.
Schools Combine Religious Tradition and Character Education
The study focused on schools affiliated with LP Ma’arif NU Tulungagung, an educational institution associated with Nahdlatul Ulama, one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations. These schools incorporate religious culture into everyday learning through repeated social and spiritual practices.
Researchers observed several daily activities designed to strengthen character development, including:
- Congregational prayers
- Prayer recitations before and after classes
- Istighotsah religious gatherings
- Shalawat recitations
- Greeting and handshaking traditions
- Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah learning sessions
Rather than treating character education as a separate subject, schools embedded moral values into all educational activities. Teachers connected classroom lessons with values such as responsibility, honesty, cooperation, discipline, and empathy.
The study reported that repeated exposure to these practices gradually shaped student behavior through habituation. Students became accustomed to respectful communication, disciplined routines, and stronger social interaction within the school environment.
Teachers Play a Central Role in Student Character Formation
One of the strongest findings in the research involved the role of teachers as behavioral models. Students were more likely to adopt moral and religious values when teachers consistently demonstrated them in everyday interactions.
The researchers found that teacher behavior had a direct influence on how students practiced politeness, discipline, and responsibility. In schools where teachers actively modeled positive attitudes, students showed stronger emotional control and greater respect toward peers and adults.
Suminto and Rifo Rifat Basya explained that character formation becomes more effective when students observe values in practice rather than only hearing theoretical explanations.
The study also emphasized that school leadership plays an important role in maintaining a supportive educational culture. Principals who consistently reinforced religious values and school traditions contributed to a more stable and disciplined learning environment.
Digital Media Remains a Major Challenge
Despite the positive outcomes, the researchers identified several obstacles that continue to challenge character education in modern schools.
The largest concern involves digital technology and social media exposure. Researchers found that unrestricted access to online content can weaken the effectiveness of school-based moral education, especially when students encounter values that conflict with school teachings.
Differences in family background also influenced student behavior. Some students came from homes with strong religious habits, while others lacked consistent supervision or moral reinforcement outside school.
The study noted that schools often face difficulties maintaining character development when family environments do not support similar values at home.
“Character education cannot be implemented instantly but requires a consistent and ongoing process,” the researchers wrote in their discussion of the findings.
The research also highlighted the growing need for schools to adapt character education strategies to the realities of the digital era. Researchers recommended that schools develop positive digital learning media containing religious and ethical values to counterbalance harmful online influences.
Religious Culture Encourages Tolerance and Social Harmony
An important contribution of the study involves its analysis of Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah values in student development.
The schools integrated four important principles commonly associated with Nahdlatul Ulama traditions:
- Tawassuth (moderation)
- Tawazun (balance)
- Tasamuh (tolerance)
- I’tidal (justice and fairness)
Researchers found that these values helped students develop more moderate attitudes, respect differences, and maintain harmonious social relationships. The findings suggest that religious culture can contribute not only to spiritual growth but also to social cohesion in increasingly diverse societies.
The study argues that religious school culture can serve as an adaptive model for modern education without abandoning local traditions or Islamic identity.
Implications for Education Policy and Schools
The findings may influence how schools and policymakers approach character education programs in Indonesia and other countries facing similar social challenges.
The researchers recommended several practical steps for schools:
- Strengthening collaboration between schools and parents
- Training teachers in character-based education strategies
- Integrating moral values into all learning activities
- Developing positive digital educational content
- Maintaining consistent religious and social habits in schools
The study also recommends future research using quantitative methods to measure the long-term effectiveness of religious culture on student behavior and academic outcomes.
As debates continue globally about the role of schools in shaping ethics, citizenship, and emotional intelligence, the LP Ma’arif NU Tulungagung model offers an example of how faith-based educational culture can influence student behavior beyond academic performance.
Author Profiles
Suminto is a researcher and academic at the State Islamic University of Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung, Indonesia. His expertise focuses on Islamic education, character education, and religious school culture.
Rifo Rifat Basya is an academic researcher at the State Islamic University of Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung. His research interests include Islamic educational systems, student character development, and value-based learning environments.
Source
Article Title: Strategy for Strengthening Character Education Through Religious Culture in Schools in The Ma'arif NU Tulungagung Primary School
Authors: Suminto and Rifo Rifat Basya
Journal: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Holistik (JIPH)
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