Internalization of Pesantren Culture in Shaping Student Character: A Qualitative Case Study at SMP Simanjaya Sekaran, Lamongan

Abstract

Pesantren culture has increasingly been integrated into formal schooling to strengthen students’ religious and moral character. However, its effectiveness depends on the systematic internalization of pesantren values through educational practices rather than their transmission as religious knowledge alone. This study examines the internalization of pesantren culture at SMP Simanjaya Sekaran, Lamongan, and its contribution to student character formation. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the principal, curriculum coordinator, Islamic education teacher, teachers, pesantren educators, and students, complemented by participant observation and document analysis. Data were analyzed through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that pesantren culture is internalized through four interconnected mechanisms: institutional and curricular integration, daily religious habituation, teacher exemplarity and continuous supervision, and the development of student self-regulation. These mechanisms manifest in practices such as salam and musafahah, congregational prayer, recitation of Aqidatul Awam and Ratibul Athos, Qur’anic memorization, cleanliness, discipline, and respectful interpersonal conduct. Observations further indicate that students demonstrate disciplined behavior with limited dependence on direct supervision. Thus, pesantren culture is internalized through the systematic integration of values, routines, exemplary practices, and sustained reinforcement, transforming pesantren values into everyday character.