Peer-reviewed article
Local-Wisdom-Based Character Education Management in Early Childhood Education
Turini Ernawati, Rasdi Eko Siswoyo, Wahyu Hardyanto, Tri Joko Raharjo ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This research examines how character education based on local wisdom is implemented and managed in an early childhood education centre in Cirebon City, Indonesia. The study found that character values are drawn from local cultural traditions and integrated into teaching through planning, implementation, and supervision by school leadership. Supporting factors include government backing, community involvement, and adequate resources, while challenges include limited control over children's learning outside school and media influence. The findings provide guidance for early childhood education managers on how to design and deliver character education rooted in local cultural values.
Key points
- Character education values taught are based on local Cirebon cultural wisdom, particularly teachings about piety, discipline, wisdom, decency, and social life
- Character education management includes three components: planning aligned with school vision, implementation integrated into subjects and daily life contexts, and periodic supervision by principals
- Supporting factors for successful implementation include government support, adequate human resources and facilities, programmed activities, and engagement of parents and communities
- Inhibiting factors include limited school control over children's learning after school hours and negative influences from media
- Local-wisdom-based learning methods used align with national early childhood education guidelines
Limitations
This is a descriptive qualitative study of a single early childhood education centre, so findings may not be generalizable to other settings or regions with different cultural contexts. The study does not measure outcomes or evaluate the effectiveness of character education on children's actual development or behaviour.
Abstract
Efforts to prepare better future generations through local character education based on local wisdom should be done since early childhood. The purpose of this research is to explain (1) the implementation of character education based on local wisdom, (2) character education management based on local wisdom, and (3) factors that influence the management of character education based on local wisdom. Data were drawn using (1) interviews, (2) participant observation, and (3) documentation techniques. The data were analyzed by means of an interactive model consisting of data collection, data reduction, data display, and inference. The results show that (1) the character values taught in PAUD KB Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiyah Cirebon City adopt the kinship system which is one of the local cultural centers in Cirebon City. The local wisdom of the communities in Cirebon is derived from SGJ, especially the sayings of SGJ which imply piety, belief, discipline, wisdom, policy, decency, manners and social life; (2) the character education management that is based on the local wisdom includes planning, implementation, and supervision; (3) the supporting factors in the implementaton of the character education management include the government support, human resources, facilities, programmed activities, support of school residents, parents, and surrounding communities. The inhibiting factors include limited control of the school after the students are off school and the influence of the media. The local wisdom based character education is planned with reference to the school vision, i.e. Forming a smart, good, skilled, and noble learner”. Character education can be integrated into every subject and linked to the context of everyday life. As a supervisor, the principal has supervised and guided the teacher periodically during each turn of the school year. The learning method that is based on local wisdom is in accordance with the reference of the Directorate of Early Childhood Education. The results of this study can be used as a reference for preparing and planning the management of local-based character education in early childhood education, and providing input for PAUD managers in developing and implementing the model of planning, implementation, and supervision of character education that is based on local wisdom.