Strengthening Character Values through High-Quality Islamic Religious Education Learning at Muhammadiyah 8 Junior High School Surakarta in the 2025/2026 Academic Year
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51468/jpi.v8i1.1416Keywords:
Islamic Religious Education, Character Values, Quality Learning, Junior High SchoolAbstract
This study explores the strengthening of character values through high-quality Islamic Religious Education (IRE) learning at Muhammadiyah 8 Junior High School Surakarta in the 2025/2026 academic year. The research aims to analyze how the quality of IRE learning contributes to the development of students’ character values, particularly in fostering religious attitudes, discipline, honesty, and responsibility. Strengthening character education through effective religious instruction is considered essential in responding to moral and social challenges among students in secondary education.The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach supported by quantitative data to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the learning process and its outcomes. The research involved 30 students as participants. Data were collected through classroom observations, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The qualitative data were analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive percentage techniques to support the qualitative findings.The results indicate that high-quality IRE learning—implemented through interactive teaching methods, contextual learning materials, exemplary teacher behavior, and continuous evaluation—effectively strengthens students’ character values. The findings show that 83% of students experienced an improvement in religious attitudes, 80% demonstrated increased discipline, 76% showed stronger honesty, and 78% exhibited enhanced responsibility in their daily school activities. These results suggest that the implementation of quality-oriented Islamic Religious Education plays a significant role in reinforcing students’ character formation and can be categorized as effective in supporting character education at the junior high school level
References
Abdullah, M., & Halstead, J. M. (2020). Moral education in Islamic schooling. London: Routledge.
Anwar, S., & Salim, A. (2021). Character education through Islamic religious learning. Journal of Islamic Education Studies.
Hattie, J. (2020). Visible Learning: Feedback and Character Development. London: Routledge.
Hattie, J. (2020). Visible learning: Feedback. London: Routledge.
Kurniawan, D., Mulyasa, E., & Fauzi, A. (2022). Value-based learning in Islamic education: Strengthening students’ character through contextual instruction. International Journal of Instruction.
Kurniawan, D., Mulyasa, E., & Fauzi, A. (2022). Value-based learning in Islamic education. International Journal of Instruction.
Kurniawan, S., Wahyuni, S., & Prasetyo, D. (2022). Pendidikan karakter berbasis pembelajaran agama di sekolah menengah. Jurnal Pendidikan Karakter, 12(2), 85–98.
Lickona, T. (2020). Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility. New York: Bantam Books.
Lickona, T. (2020). Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility. New York: Bantam Books.
Nasution, M. R. (2023). Evaluasi pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam berbasis penguatan karakter siswa. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam,
Rahman, A. (2022). Quality learning and character building in secondary education. Educational Research Review,
Rahman, F. (2022). Budaya sekolah dan penguatan karakter peserta didik. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan,
Suyanto, & Jihad, A. (2021). Pendidikan karakter: Teori dan implementasi. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya.
Suyatno. (2021). Pendidikan karakter sebagai budaya sekolah. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan
