Revitalization of Local Traditional Culture for Sustainable Development of National Character Building in Indonesia

Abstract

Education is a cultural and civilized effort to advance human life and to improve human dignity. Ki Hadjar Dewantara (KHD) established Tamansiswa Indonesia in 1922 and proposed the Tri-centra Education concept as harmonious cooperation among formal, non-formal, and informal-education at family, school, and community. An education system with an influential culture and values educate the head, heart, and hand, respectively, based on love, care, and dedication. The Among tutoring system is one with a familial spirit that is based on nature and independence. The cultural concept of “Three Excellent Souls” consists of cipta (create), rasa (feel), and karsa (intend), describe the reason, emotion, and intention, respectively. The national character education is not merely a schooling process, but also in family and social-cultural environment. The development of a superior new civilization could produce prominent Indonesian people based on God, humanity, nationality, family, and justice; by relying on the essential capital of culture and education. Tri-centra education is fully aware of extraordinary character, ethics, noble character, and individual responsibility that must be contributed in real terms, respecting others’ rights, nature, and diversity and determining responsible choices/decisions. According to the times, TRI-CON (convergent, concentric, and continuous) concept with the Among system in managing culture evolved dynamically. Local culture, folklore, fairy tales, ancient puppets, both orally or in writing, have been used as learning material to instill and preserve moral stories, leadership, local wisdom, and culture. The development of digital media as educational media enables millennial students to be directly involved in stories, take moral wisdom, motivate, be creative, innovate as character education rooted firmly in the ancestral culture. Revitalization of traditional regional culture is essential to support the sustainable development of national character building in Indonesia.