Internalization of Moral Values through Hidden Curriculum in Character Building of Students

Yogi Teguh Wahyudi; Nur Fatimah; Ummi Lailia Maghfiroh

doi:10.61987/jemr.v5i5.2913

Authors

Yogi Teguh Wahyudi Universitas Islam Zainul Hasan Genggong
Nur Fatimah Universitas Islam Zainul Hasan Genggong
Ummi Lailia Maghfiroh Universitas Islam Zainul Hasan Genggong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v5i5.2913

Keywords:

Hidden Curriculum, Moral Values Internalization, Islamic Character Education, Madrasah Culture

Abstract

This study aims to examine the strategic implementation of hidden curriculum in internalizing moral (akhlak) values and fostering students’ character development at MTs Miftahul Jannah. This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach using observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis involving the principal, Islamic Religious Education teachers, homeroom teachers, and students selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s interactive model consisting of data condensation, data display, and verification, while credibility was ensured through triangulation of sources and techniques. The findings show that hidden curriculum is implemented through three main forms: teacher role modeling, religious habituation, and school discipline culture. The internalization process occurs through value transformation, transaction, and transinternalization, which strengthen students’ religious commitment, social behavior, discipline, and responsibility. The study concludes that hidden curriculum effectively transforms moral values into daily practices. The implication emphasizes the need to strengthen school culture, teacher exemplarity, and collaboration among stakeholders to develop sustainable Islamic character education in educational institutions.

References

Abidin, Z., Slamet, I., Wijayanti, I., & Kamal, Y. (2024). The Hidden Curriculum in Islamic Religious Education and Its Impact on the Character Formation of Sudirman Kaliangkrik Islamic High School Students. Amorti: Jurnal Studi Islam Interdisipliner. https://doi.org/10.59944/amorti.v3i1.123

Acetylena, S., & Zaironi, M. (2026). Character Formation Through Islamic Religious Education: Integrating Role Modeling, Habituation, Contextual Learning, and Educational Technology in an Indonesian Madrasah. Jurnal At-Tarbiyat: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.37758/jat.99i1.451

Aimi. (2026). Islamic Religious Education Teacher Professionalism in Building a Religious School Environment: A Literature Review of Role Modelling, Religious Habituation, and School Culture. Khazanah Tarbawi: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.65793/j.j.khazanah-tarbawi.2026.114

Ainiyah, N., Cipta, E. S., Hendra, A., & Roziqin, A. (2025). Implementing the Hidden Curriculum: Character Building in Elementary School Students Through Habituation. Muallimuna: Jurnal Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. https://doi.org/10.31602/piuk.v0i0.20980

Al-Mujahid, A., & Hussain, H. (2025). Exploring the Hidden Curriculum as a Catalyst for Moral Development Among Secondary-Level Students in Private Schools of District East, Karachi. Review Journal of Social Psychology & Social Works. https://doi.org/10.71145/rjsp.v3i2.257

Amalia, E. R., M, D. B. I., Khoiriyati, S., Ummah, N., Oviani, M., Kusumawardhani, J., & Umayyah, U. (2025). Bridging Educational Reform and Faith: Evaluating Kurikulum Merdeka's Compatibility With Islamic Values in Madrasahs. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i4.1413

Apriliani, D., & Gurnadi, K. (2026). Character Education in Islamic Education Learning: An Analysis of Character Values in Islamic Education Textbook for Madrasah Tsanawiyah. Referensi Islamika: Jurnal Studi Islam. https://doi.org/10.66053/ri.v4i2.400

Arifin, S., Huda, M., & Mufida, N. (2023). Developing Akhlak Karimah Values Through Integrative Learning Model in Madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v0i0.24443

Fahlawi, S., Pertiwi, R., Agama, I., Nurul, I., & Barat, H. L. (2025). Islamic Education Curriculum Based on Environmental Awareness at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Al Mansyuriyah Lombok Tengah Year 2024. Journal of Practice Learning and Educational Development. https://doi.org/10.58737/jpled.v5i1.397

Fahrurrozi, F., Qomar, M., & Sokip, S. (2025). Implementation of Character Education Based on Islamic Values at Madrasah Tsanawiyah. Urwatul Wutsqo: Jurnal Studi Kependidikan dan Keislaman. https://doi.org/10.54437/urwatulwutsqo.v14i2.2091

Fitri, F., & Arief, A. Al. (2025). Elements of Change in the 2013 Curriculum and Its Impact on the Development of the Islamic Education Curriculum at the YPI Islamic Madrasah Tsanawiyah in the Batang Kuis District. International Journal of Education, Social Studies, and Management (IJESSM). https://doi.org/10.52121/ijessm.v5i2.849

Galaksi, G. (2025). Implementation of the Experiential Learning Model in the Aqidah Akhlak Subject for Student Character Development at Madrasah Tsanawiyah An-Nur Padang. Ruhama: Islamic Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.31869/ruhama.v8i1.6680

Homsiyah, H., Ramdhan, T. W., & Baitaputra, M. H. (2026). The Hidden Curriculum in Islamic Boarding Schools and Its Implications for the Formation of Santri Character: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Indonesian Islamic Studies. https://doi.org/10.24256/jiis.v5i2.10089

Ishomuddin, M., & Aziz, A. A. (2025). Hidden Curriculum Strategy in the Formation of Tolerance: A Case Study at Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School. Management of Education: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.18592/moe.v11i2.17018

Khairani, S., Budiyanti, Y., & Sapri. (2024). Internalization of Islamic Education Values in Physical Education and Health Subjects at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Binjai City. Ilomata International Journal of Social Science. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijss.v5i3.1232

Komala, A. T., & Sukandar, A. (2025). Character Education Model Based on Islamic Adab Values in the Tsanawiyah Madrasah Environment. At Turots: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.51468/jpi.v7i1.1047

Kosim, M., Kustati, M., Sirait, W. R., Fajri, S., Febriani, S., Mufti, M., & Perrodin, D. (2024). Developing a Religious Moderation-Based Curriculum Module for Laboratory Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Islamic Higher Education. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i2.39163

Litaay, S. C. H., Manuputty, F., Afdhal, A., & Makaruku, N. D. (2025). Local Culture-Based Education in the Hidden Curriculum: A Strategy for Fostering Tolerance and Peace in Maluku Secondary Schools. Society. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v13i1.777

Ma'arif, M. A., Rofiq, M. H., Kausar, S., Sirojuddin, A., Kartiko, A., & Hasan, M. S. (2024). Shaping Students' Moderate Islamic Character at Madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i2.34029

Malahati, F., & Rokhimawan, M. (2024). The Implementation of Hidden Curriculum on Fifth Grade Students' Character Development at Islamic Elementary School. Didaktika: Jurnal Pendidikan Sekolah Dasar. https://doi.org/10.21831/didaktika.v6i2.67252

Manik, E. E. (2023). Student Character Building Through Hidden Curriculum Based on Connectionism Theory. Devotion Journal of Community Service. https://doi.org/10.59188/devotion.v4i5.465

Nurhidayati, N., Anjarini, T., & Ratnaningsih, A. (2024). Implementation of School-Based Management to Optimize Character Education in Primary School. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v6i3.8488

Nursobah, A., Arjuna, A., Ulhaq, M. M., & Ariska, M. (2025). Integrative Model of Religious Habituation in Building Students' Religious Character. Fitrah: Journal of Islamic Education. https://doi.org/10.53802/fitrah.v6i2.1142

Pelawa, A., Yuliani, I., Miftahul, M. T., Kareteng, I. U., Triwahyuni, M. T. Y., Ulum, I. M., Kurniawati, Y., Al, M. T., Lape, F., & Fauzah, A. (2024). Effective Strategies in Teaching Moral Creeds to Increase Faith and Moral Goodness in MTs Alkhairaat Pelawa Students. Jurnal Profesi Guru Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.62945/jpgi.v1i4.629

Rahayu, W., Tazkiyah, E., Murtadho, N., & Arifin, S. (2023). The Role of Teacher Ethics in Developing Student Character in School. Jurnal Ilmiah Sekolah Dasar. https://doi.org/10.23887/jisd.v7i3.55245

Sahrandi, A., Taufiq, M., & Lubis, K. A. S. (2026). Character Building Through Hidden Curriculum: Caregivers' Tahajjud Exemplarity and Time Discipline in Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.38073/jpi.4549

Said, G. S., Ridwan, M., & Sholeh, A. (2025). Formation of Discipline Character Through Internalization of the Value of Islamic Religious Education in the Students of the Wali Songo Ngabar Islamic Boarding School. Fondatia. https://doi.org/10.36088/fondatia.v9i2.5752

Salim, N. A., Zaini, M., Wahib, A., Fauzi, I., & Asnawan, A. (2024). Fostering Moderate Character of Santri: Effective Hidden Curriculum Strategy in Islamic Boarding Schools. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i2.4676

Sari, A. P., Istiyani, D., & Muslam. (2025). Internalizing Character Education and Moral Values Through 3S Habituation (Smile, Greeting, and Salutation) in Early Childhood Education. Tematik: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. https://doi.org/10.26858/tematik.v11i2.11010

Sayidah, A., & Fatimah, M. (2025). The Role of Aqidah Akhlak Instruction in Instilling Character Values Among Madrasah Students. Abjadia: International Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.18860/abj.v10i4.37159

Sihite, E., Prayuda, M. S., & Sihotang, M. (2025). Implementing Character Education in Elementary School. Jurnal Pendidikan, Media, Strategi, dan Metode. https://doi.org/10.67507/jupen.v2i02.392

Suhermanto, Mansyuri, A., Ma'arif, M. A., & Sebgag, S. (2024). Implementation of Character Education in PAI Subjects in the Independent Curriculum. Fikroh: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.37812/fikroh.v17i1.1394

Sutisman, E., & Mardiana, D. (2026). Principal Academic Supervision Management and Teachers' Pedagogical Competence in Elementary Schools: A Cross-Case Analysis. Asian Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship and Social Science, 6(2), 1641–1662.

Wahyu, I., & Inayati, N. (2025). The Role of Islamic Religious Education Teachers as a Model of Character Education in SMK Negeri 1 Sambirejo. Electronic Journal of Education, Social Economics and Technology. https://doi.org/10.33122/ejeset.v6i1.622

Warsah, I., Morganna, R., Warsah, B. A. A., & Warsah, B. H. H. (2024). Islamic Psychology-Based Educational Strategies for Student Character Development. AJIS: Academic Journal of Islamic Studies. https://doi.org/10.29240/ajis.v9i2.11326

Wasehudin, W., Wajdi, M. B. N., Silahuddin, S., Syafei, I., Sirojudin, R., Bahtiar, M., & Hasanah, U. (2024). The Paradigm of Character Education in Islamic Elementary School. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v24i2.22546

Wawan, W., & Wasliman, E. D. (2026). Systematic Management of Morality Development in Strengthening Elementary School Character Education. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education. https://doi.org/10.56916/jirpe.v5i1.2778

Zaini, A. W. (2023). Beyond the Curriculum: Exploring the Influence of Islamic Values and Teacher Role Models on Student Character Formation. Afkarina: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam. https://doi.org/10.33650/afkarina.v8i2.9389

Zuhri, A., Alnashr, M., Nihayah, H., Ihsan, I., Ulumuddin, I. K., Darnoto, D., & Munjiat, S. M. (2026). How Madrasahs Build Students' Character in Indonesia's Society 5.0 Era: Emerging Challenges. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v9i1.412