Merti Dusun ceremony as a local culture-based strategy for strengthening elementary character education
: Character education in schools base own fundamental role in form a generation of integrity and empowerment competitive and moral noble . In line with increasing global attention to education characters , various studies show importance integration values culture local For strengthen relevance and meaning learning for participant educate . This study focused on exploration values education character in tradition Merti Dusun as form wisdom local Indonesian society that reflects harmony between humans , nature , and spirituality . Tradition This involving various activity collective like prayer together , procession culture , feasts , and cross-country mutual cooperation generation , which reflects values like Work same , responsibility responsibility , mutual cooperation, and gratitude . Approach qualitative with perspective ethnopedagogy used For dig meaning and relevance values the in context education basis . Study results show that Merti Dusun No only functioning as inheritance culture , but also as means effective For implant values character through experience contextual social and spiritual values . Integration of values culture local to in learning at school base proven can increase sensitivity culture , strengthening identity national , and encourage creation education more characters contextual , sustainable , and adaptive to global dynamics . Findings This confirm importance involvement community and culture local in design curriculum education characters in Indonesia.
Downloads
Agriawan, G., Masrukhi, M., & Arsal, T. (2023). Local wisdom values of merti desa: resource for learning social studies in Boja Village, Kendal. Journal of Educational Social Studies, 12(2), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.15294/jess.v12i2.63568
Andriani, N., Ulfatin, N., Imron, A., & Sumarsono, R. B. (2023). Heutagogy and Indigenous Knowledge in Integrated Thematic Instruction and Character Education. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 17(7). https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v17n7-030
Ardelia, N., Cilla, V., Amaliah, S. N., Nurantika, M., Anjani, V., & Prilosadoso, B. H. (2023). Fanatisme Sepak Bola : Analisis Visual Media Sosial Terhadap Anarkis Antar Suporter. 4(2).
Asri, A., & Deviv, S. (2024). Character Education: A Review of Implementation and Challenges in Schools. 4(1), 1–6.
Banks, J. A. (2004). Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives. Wiley. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=L9KeAAAAMAAJ
Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2004). Research Based Character Education. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 591, 72–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716203260082
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Harvard University Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=OCmbzWka6xUC
Carter, N., Bryant-lukosius, D., Dicenso, A., & Blythe, J. (2019). Methods & Meanings. 41(5), 2014. https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.545-547
Dunham, H., & Oti, O. A. (2025). Culturally Sustaining Literacy Practices: What’s Possible in the Elementary Classroom. Reading Teacher, 79(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.70008
Gay, G. (2010). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. Teachers College. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=rYspC7C-zowC
Gunbayi, I. (2024). Rigor in qualitative. 3(2), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13256320
Hadi, Y., Kholis, N., Remanita, Y., & Harta, L. I. (2025). A Systematic Literature Review on Character Education Strategies in Primary and Secondary Schools. 3(2). https://doi.org/10.70376/jerp.v3i2.389
Haedar, M. A. (2016). Pergeseran Pemaknaan Ritual Merti Dusun; Studi atas Ritual Warga Dusun Celengan, Tuntang, Semarang. Al-A’raf : Jurnal Pemikiran Islam Dan Filsafat, 13(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.22515/ajpif.v13i1.41
Handoko, H., Sartono, E. K. E., & Retnawati, H. (2024). The Implementation of Character Education in Elementary School: the Strategy and Challenge. Jurnal Ilmiah Sekolah Dasar, 7(4), 619–631. https://doi.org/10.23887/jisd.v7i4.62102
Kamal, M., Damopolii, M., & Datunsolang, R. (2025). Integrasi Nilai-Nilai Kearifan Lokal Dengan Pendekatan Contextual Teaching And Learning Dalam Pembelajaran Seni Budaya Di SDN 8 Kwandang. 7(1), 59–67.
Karatas, K. (2020). Contributions of culturally responsive elementary school teachers in the education process. Excellence in Education Journal, 9(2), 97–120.
Ladson-Billings, G. (2021). Three Decades of Culturally Relevant, Responsive, & Sustaining Pedagogy: What Lies Ahead? Educational Forum, 85(4), 351–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131725.2021.1957632
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
Marosi, N., Avraamidou, L., & Galani, L. (2021). Culturally relevant pedagogies in science education as a response to global migration. SN Social Sciences, 1(6), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-021-00159-w
Nucci, L. P., & Narváez, D. (2008). Handbook of Moral and Character Education. Routledge. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=bZ8gzPywS7IC
Nurasiah, I., Sumantri, M. S., Nurhasanah, N., & Casmana, A. R. (2022). Cultural Values’ Integration in Character Development in Elementary Schools: The Sukuraga as Learning Media. Frontiers in Education, 7(May). https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.849218
Oldham, P., & McLoughlin, S. (2025). Character education empirical research: A thematic review and comparative content analysis. Journal of Moral Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2025.2480185
Ouyang, S., Zhang, W., Xue, L., Rashid, A. M., Pyng, H. S., & Hassan, A. Bin. (2025). The Cultural Compass: A Systematic Review on Cultural Dimensions Theory in Educational Settings. SAGE Open, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251342160
Palennari, M., Jamaluddin, A. Bin, Syam, S., Nurdiyanti, Rosba, E., Machmud, M. T., & Fatmawati, A. (2023). The Power of Educational Values for Shaping the Character of University Students in the Disruption Era: Exploring Local Culture. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(6), 224–238. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0160
Poerwanti, J. I. S., & Marmoah, S. (2021). Building Character Values Through Global Education in Social Studies Learning in Elementary Schools. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3516875.3516945
Purwo, A., Utomo, Y., Yanitama, A., Galih, R., Pramono, D., Riwayati, N., Ilmu, F., Politik, I., Politik, I., Semarang, U. N., Matematika, F., Matematika, P., Semarang, U. N., Bahasa, F., Bahasa, P., Negeri, U., Matematika, F., Ipa, P., Semarang, U. N., … Sosiologi, P. (2025). Kolaborasi Komunitas Pendidikan dalam Implementasi Program Penanaman Karakter Berbasis Kebutuhan Lokal di Sekolah Lingkar Kampus Universitas Negeri Semarang Collaboration of Educational Communities in the Implementation of Character Education Programs Bas. 2(September).
Puspitasari, D., & Falikhatun. (2026). Accountability Through Merti Dusun Values: Integrating Javanese Local Wisdom Into Social and Environmental Accounting. International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 10, 334–349. https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.1017
Ratri, D. P., Widiati, U., Astutik, I., Magdalena, P., Malang, U. N., & Brawijaya, U. (2024). A Systematic Review on the Integration of Local Culture into English Language Teaching in Southeast Asia: Current Practices and Impacts on Learners’ Attitude and Engagement. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 14(2), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.14.02.05
Revivals, R. (2018). The Sixth : An Essay in Education and Democracy.
Rohandi, R. (2016). Teachers Experiences in Incorporating Students Funds of Knowledge to Promote the Learning of Science. 421–433.
Rokhman, F., Hum, M., Syaifudin, A., & Yuliati. (2014). Character Education for Golden Generation 2045 (National Character Building for Indonesian Golden Years). Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 141, 1161–1165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.05.197
Roza, P., Saepudin, E., Jati, A. G., & Qoriah, Q. (2022). Model of Character Education at Higher Education Institutions for Strengthening the National Resilience. Proceedings of the Conference on Digital Humanities 2022 (CODH 2022), 75–94. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-69-5_9
Sakti, S. A., Endraswara, S., & Rohman, A. (2024). Integrating Local Cultural Values into Early Childhood Education to Promote Character Building. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(7), 84–101. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.7.5
Setyawati, A. A. (2016). Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Upacara Merti Dusun (Studi Upacara Merti Dusun Di Dusun Mantup, Desa Baturetno, Kecamatan Banguntapan, Kabupaten Bantul). Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial, 5(5). https://journal.student.uny.ac.id/societas/article/view/4001
Spiteri, J., & Spiteri, J. (2024). Pre-service ECEC teachers ’ conceptions of climate change : a community funds of knowledge and identity approach a community funds of knowledge and identity approach. Education 3-13, 4279, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2024.2322999
Supriyanti. (2025). Integrasi Nilai Kearifan Lokal dalam Pembelajaran untuk Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter di SDN 04 kalicinta , Kotabumi. 22(1), 82–95.
Tan, C., & Tan, C. S. (2014). Fostering social cohesion and cultural sustainability through Character and Citizenship Education in Singapore. 191–206.
Tassell-Matamua, N. (2025). Indigenous knowledges. What they are and why they matter. Explore, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2025.103144
Wahidatus Sa’diyah, W. (2024). Implementasi Ekstrakurikuler Gamelan dalam Menanamkan Karakter Anak Usia Dini. 4.
Yulika, F. (2023). Character Education Based On Additional Culture and Minangkabau Culture. 9(1), 226–232.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sunarsih Sunarsih, Sriyanto Sriyanto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the journal as the publisher of the journal. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.

Jurnal Prima Edukasia by http://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/jpe/index is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.








