For many years, schools have measured success primarily through academic achievement. However, rapid technological change and evolving social behavior have highlighted another challenge: helping young people develop discipline, responsibility, empathy, resilience, and healthy daily routines.
The authors argue that character education cannot rely solely on classroom lessons or occasional campaigns. Instead, it must become an integral part of school management and everyday life. Schools that consistently reinforce positive values through routines, leadership, and collaboration are more likely to cultivate lasting character development among students.
The review centers on Indonesia's Seven Habits of Great Indonesian Children Movement (Gerakan 7 Kebiasaan Anak Indonesia Hebat), a national policy introduced by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). The initiative encourages students to practice seven daily habits:
- Wake up early
- Practice religious worship
- Exercise regularly
- Eat healthy and nutritious food
- Love learning
- Engage with society
- Go to bed early
According to the researchers, these habits collectively support students' spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development while promoting lifelong positive behavior.
Reviewing Recent Educational Evidence
Rather than conducting surveys or classroom experiments, the researchers carried out an integrative literature review. They examined journal articles, academic books, educational regulations, and government policy documents published mainly between 2021 and 2026.
The sources were selected based on their relevance to character education, school culture, educational management, and habit-based learning. After collecting the literature, the team compared findings across studies and synthesized the evidence to develop a comprehensive framework explaining how the Seven Habits Movement can strengthen school culture.
School Culture Emerges as the Key Driver
One of the strongest conclusions from the review is that school culture plays a decisive role in shaping student character.
Previous studies cited in the review consistently found that students develop positive values more effectively when teachers, principals, parents, and the wider school community reinforce those values every day. Schools that promote routine positive behaviors—such as discipline, cooperation, religious activities, literacy, and respectful interactions—create environments where character develops naturally.
The review also notes several continuing challenges, including:
- declining student responsibility,
- weak discipline,
- excessive dependence on digital technology,
- limited family involvement, and
- inconsistent implementation of character education across schools.
These findings suggest that successful character education requires continuous cooperation between schools and families rather than isolated school-based initiatives.
Habit Formation Produces Long-Term Character Development
The literature reviewed by the authors consistently shows that habituation is more effective than simply teaching moral concepts.
Students gradually develop integrity, responsibility, empathy, independence, and self-discipline when positive behaviors are repeated every day. The Seven Habits Movement therefore functions not as a short-term educational campaign but as a long-term behavioral development strategy.
One study included in the review reported that implementing the Seven Habits Movement achieved an overall 81.4% effectiveness rate, placing it in the "highly effective" category for improving student discipline, tolerance, and cooperation.
However, researchers also identified one area requiring additional attention: love of learning. This habit showed comparatively weaker outcomes because of limited intrinsic motivation, excessive smartphone use, and insufficient academic support at home.
Leadership Determines Success
The review highlights school leadership as another critical success factor.
According to the synthesized evidence, principals who demonstrate transformational leadership are better able to translate government policy into daily school practice. Teachers serve as role models who reinforce positive routines, while parents ensure that healthy habits continue outside school.
The researchers conclude that character education succeeds when the entire educational ecosystem works collaboratively instead of relying on classroom instruction alone.
Four Management Steps for Stronger Character Education
The article proposes that schools integrate the Seven Habits Movement through four interconnected management functions:
- Planning: Incorporate the seven habits into school vision, curriculum, regulations, and student development programs.
- Organizing: Build collaboration among principals, teachers, students, parents, and communities.
- Implementation: Reinforce positive habits through consistent daily practice.
- Evaluation: Monitor behavioral development using observations, reflections, journals, and parent participation.
The authors argue that these management practices allow character education to become embedded within the school system instead of remaining an additional extracurricular initiative.
Implications for Education Policy
The findings suggest that Indonesia's national character education agenda may benefit from focusing less on isolated programs and more on sustainable school culture.
For schools, the review offers a practical framework for integrating character development into daily educational management. For policymakers, it provides evidence supporting long-term implementation of the Seven Habits Movement. Families are also identified as essential partners because students' behaviors are reinforced both inside and outside the classroom.
If implemented consistently, the researchers believe the movement could help schools develop students who are academically capable while also demonstrating responsibility, discipline, healthy lifestyles, empathy, and resilience in facing twenty-first century challenges.
Academic Perspective
Riyanti Sholihah, Ahmad Husin, and Lailatus Sah'ro of Universitas Bakti Indonesia conclude that strengthening students' character requires a shift from program-based character education toward school culture-based character education, where positive values are continuously practiced until they become part of students' everyday behavior. Their review emphasizes that sustainable leadership, teacher role models, family participation, and collaborative school management are essential for this transformation.
Author Profiles
Riyanti Sholihah is a researcher from Universitas Bakti Indonesia specializing in character education management, educational policy, and school culture.
Ahmad Husin is an academic at Universitas Bakti Indonesia whose expertise includes educational administration, school leadership, and educational management.
Lailatus Sah'ro is a researcher at Universitas Bakti Indonesia focusing on character education, educational transformation, and school culture development.
Source
Sholihah, R., Husin, A., & Sah'ro, L. (2026). Transforming Character Education Management through the Implementation of the Seven Habits of Great Indonesian Children Movement: A Literature Review on Strengthening School Culture Based on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's National Policy. International Journal of Sustainable Applied Sciences (IJSAS), 4(7), 773–786.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijsas.v4i7.22
URL: http://ijsasjournal.my.id/index.php/ijsas
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