Strengthening Character Education for Elementary Students Through the Practice of Sungkeman (Indonesian Local Culture) With a Direct Interaction Approach

This study examines the effectiveness of the sungkeman practice (a local cultural tradition) in enhancing character education among elementary school students through direct interaction. Data from 30 students were analyzed based on indicators of respect, moral awareness, apologetic behavior, and politeness before and after the practice. Additional variables such as geographic conditions, parental education levels, and social environment were also considered. The results revealed significant improvements across all indicators: Respect increased by 54.05%, moral awareness by 59.79%, apologetic behavior by 168.85%, and politeness by 24.35%. Statistical tests confirmed the significance of these changes (p<0.05). The highest impact was observed in rural areas and among students with parents of moderate educational backgrounds, while urban and individualistic environments required supplementary approaches. The sungkeman practice has proven effective in fostering character education, emphasizing the value of cultural traditions in modern pedagogy. Recommendations include integrating this practice into the curriculum and involving the community to ensure its sustainability.