Studi Komparatif Model Pendidikan Karakter: Implementasi Social and Emotional Learning di Finlandia dan Kurikulum Akhlak dalam Pendidikan Agama Islam di Indonesia

Abstract

This comparative study analyzes the models of character education by comparing the implementation of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Finland and the Akhlak (Moral) Curriculum within Islamic Religious Education (PAI) in Indonesia. Modern education demands not only cognitive intelligence but also emotional and moral maturity, highlighted by rising issues like bullying and mental health problems in adolescents. Finland's success is attributed to the strong integration of SEL, a psychological method focusing on five core competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) that fosters a positive school climate. In contrast, Indonesia's PAI Akhlak Curriculum aims to form character rooted in theological-spiritual values (piety and obedience). Using a descriptive qualitative comparative method through literature review and content analysis, the study found that despite sharing the core objective of cultivating moral character , their foundations differ: SEL is secular-humanistic for well-being, while Akhlak is theological-spiritual. Furthermore, Finland's system employs a low-pressure, integrated, formative evaluation, supported by teacher autonomy, while Indonesia's PAI implementation faces challenges from a dominant focus on quantitative cognitive assessment. The study recommends that PAI adopt the structured SEL framework as a methodological bridge to translate Akhlak values into concrete student behavior and promote active, affect-focused learning.