Measuring the character construct of pancasila student profiles in the independent learning curriculum in elementary schools: Confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

Student character development through the Pancasila Student profile is a priority in the Indonesian education system, especially in Elementary Schools. However, understanding of the acceptance and application of the six main aspects of the Pancasila Student profile such as religiosity, global diversity, mutual cooperation, independence, critical thinking, and creativity is still limited. The Independent Learning Curriculum increasingly emphasizes the importance of strengthening this character in schools. This study was conducted to measure the character construct of the Pancasila Student profile by focusing on these six aspects. Through quantitative methods, data were collected from 120 students in four public elementary schools in Baubau City using a questionnaire, then analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS to measure the character construct of the Pancasila student profile. The results of the study showed that of the six aspects of character construct, religious and independent characters had stronger acceptance among students. Religiosity describes students' spirituality and faith, while independence shows students' ability to think and act independently. Both develop in accordance with the expectations of the Independent Learning Curriculum . However, the aspect of mutual cooperation, which emphasizes the spirit of cooperation and social solidarity, requires improvement. These findings show how important it is revisiting the strategy of teaching mutual cooperation in schools, considering that mutual cooperation is an important pillar in Indonesian culture and the profile of Pancasila Students. This study can be a reference for educators in designing more effective strategies, and emphasizes the need for further development with a wider sampl e size and school context, to strengthen the validity of the findings and provide more comprehensive recommendations in developing the profile of Pancasila Students in Indonesia.