Akidah Akhlak Teachers and the Formation of Students’ Religious Character: A Qualitative Case Study at a Laboratory Madrasah Tsanawiah in Jambi

M. Holif; Idarianty Idarianty

doi:10.35445/alishlah.v18i2.9631

Akidah Akhlak Teachers and the Formation of Students’ Religious Character: A Qualitative Case Study at a Laboratory Madrasah Tsanawiah in Jambi

M. Holif, Idarianty Idarianty

Abstract

This study examines the role of Akidah Akhlak teachers in shaping students’ religious character and explores how the madrasah environment supports this process. Using a qualitative single-case study design, the research was conducted at MTs Laboratorium Jambi from January to March 2026. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving 19 purposively selected participants, including Akidah Akhlak teachers, students, the principal, the curriculum coordinator, and guidance counselors. The data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña with the assistance of NVivo 12, while trustworthiness was ensured through triangulation, member checking, peer debriefing, and audit trails. The findings reveal that Akidah Akhlak teachers perform multidimensional roles as moral role models, pedagogical innovators, spiritual counselors, motivators, and collaborators. These roles are strengthened by a supportive madrasah ecosystem consisting of structured religious programs, cross-curricular value integration, teacher collaboration, and integrated student mentoring. The synergy between teacher consistency and institutional support contributes to students’ religious discipline, honesty, responsibility, worship habits, and social awareness. However, the study is limited to a single madrasah context and does not measure long-term character development. This study concludes that religious character formation requires a holistic collaboration between teacher agency and madrasah culture, and future research should examine its sustainability across diverse madrasah settings.

Keywords

religious character education; Islamic education; teacher role modeling; madrasah education; akidah akhlak teacher

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i2.9631