Local Wisdom-Based Education in Indonesian School

Abstract

Local wisdom-based education is an essential approach to addressing the challenges of globalization, which often erodes national cultural identity. This study aims to describe the implementation of local wisdom-based education in schools, analyze its benefits, and identify the obstacles encountered in practice. A descriptive qualitative method was employed, with data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The research subjects consisted of teachers, students, and community figures directly involved in local wisdom-based educational practices. The findings indicate that local wisdom-based education is implemented through curriculum integration, local content subjects, and extracurricular activities rooted in local culture. The core values instilled include cooperation, deliberation, social responsibility, environmental awareness, and appreciation of cultural traditions. These practices positively influence students’ character formation, enhance self-confidence, and strengthen the relationship between schools and local communities. However, several challenges remain, such as teachers’ limited competence in delivering culture-based learning, the scarcity of culturally relevant teaching materials, and the dominance of global popular culture that tends to attract students more than their local traditions. This study recommends several strategic steps: strengthening the curriculum with local wisdom integration, improving teacher capacity through training, providing regulatory and resource support from the government, and encouraging active community involvement in school programs. With strong collaboration among schools, government, and society, local wisdom-based education can serve as a sustainable strategy to build young generations who are of strong character, globally competitive, and firmly rooted in their cultural heritage.