Analysis of the Impact of Islamic Religious Education Learning on Student Character

This study aims to analyze the impact of Islamic Religious Education (IRE) learning on students' character development at SMA Negeri 4 Sibolga. Character education is a crucial element in the national education system, particularly in shaping students into individuals who are religious, honest, disciplined, responsible, and cooperative. This research employed a descriptive quantitative approach using a survey method, with questionnaires distributed to 60 eleventh-grade students. The results indicate that IRE learning has a positive influence on students' character formation. The religious aspect scored the highest (88%), followed by responsibility (81%) and honesty (79%). Meanwhile, cooperation (72%) and discipline (74%) were identified as areas needing further enhancement through more participatory teaching methods. These findings support the view that IRE is a strategic tool for strengthening character education in secondary schools. Therefore, innovative, contextual, and applicable teaching approaches are needed to ensure optimal internalization of character values among students.