Developing muslim students` character : a case study on the implementation of character education at Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah, Indonesia

Abstract

The present research focuses on the implementation of character education at Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah as one of Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia. It is a qualitative case study that explores and understands the phenomena closely and deeply using four different methods of collecting data: interview, focus group discussion, observation, and document. The data are gathered from four different sources: semi-structured interviews with 12 ustadz/ah (teachers) and 12 alumni, focus group discussions with 24 santris (students), participant observation conducted by the researcher, as well as documents and reports. After the data are collected, they are analysed and interpreted through subsequent procedures: transcribing, coding, displaying on matrices or tables, and interpreting. The findings reveal that character education is significantly implemented at Pondok Pesantren Darunajah and gives positive impacts upon santris‘ character. The philosophy of character education at Darunnajah is based on Islamic values and practices guided by al-Qur‘an, Hadith, and examples from Muslim scholars through various implementation strategies that coalesced into three themes; knowledge, condition, and practice. These implementations are influenced by factors either from the internal self of santri (students), internal of Pondok Pesantren, and external factors. An outline of the emerging themes and sub-themes describing the whole picture of the implementation of character education at Darunnajah finds out that Darunnajah adopts the comprehensive approach of character education based on Islamic values as its ultimate philosophy, its vision, mission, and Panca Jiwa (the five basic principles of character): sincerity, modesty, self-reliance, ukhuwah Islamiyyah (Islamic brotherhood), and freedom.