Strengthening the Value of Gotong Royong: Perspectives of Students and Civics Teachers at SMP Nurul Jannah Natuna

Abstract

This study aims to examine the strengthening of the value of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) in Civic Education (Pendidikan Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan [PPKn]) at SMP Nurul Jannah Natuna from the perspectives of students and teachers. The study is motivated by a discrepancy between the ideal conditions identified in previous studies, which indicate that the cultivation of gotong royong values generally encounters structural barriers and erosion resulting from globalization, and the empirical conditions at the research site, which demonstrate comparatively optimal outcomes. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving teachers and students as research participants. The findings indicate that teachers perceive gotong royong as a strategic instrument for character development and the transmission of local cultural values, whereas students understand it primarily through their everyday practical experiences as a means of fostering togetherness and social interaction. The successful strengthening of this value is influenced by several challenges, including digitalization, the formalization of school activities, and the geographical conditions of an archipelagic region. Nevertheless, these challenges can be addressed through contextualized and sustainable learning strategies. This study contributes to the development of character education models that are responsive to the social, cultural, and geographical contexts of archipelagic regions while also supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the field of education.