COOPERATIVE CHARACTER OF STUDENTS IN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS REVIEWED BY EXTRACURRICULAR

This study examines the development of cooperation character among vocational high school students in Pekanbaru, Riau, through participation in extracurricular activities. Character education, integral to shaping individuals with positive values, is closely linked to school culture and extracurricular involvement. The research targeted students engaged in five extracurricular programs: Rohis, OSIS, Sports, Paskibraka, and Pramuka. A questionnaire, designed to assess cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects of cooperation, was administered to 204 students selected using simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine the levels of cooperation character. The results indicated that the cooperation character of students was predominantly categorized as medium, with Paskibraka participants exhibiting the highest cooperation scores. The study suggests that extracurricular activities are crucial in cultivating cooperative behaviors among students, contributing to the formation of a supportive school culture. The findings underscore the importance of integrating character education within extracurricular frameworks to foster collaboration. Future research is recommended to explore additional character traits that are pivotal to students' success in the workforce.