Strategies for Building Student Discipline Through Congregational Prayer

Abstract

This study aims to describe the strategies used to foster disciplinary character through the implementation of congregational prayers at SMK Boarding School Brebes. The phenomenon of low student discipline presents a challenge that must be addressed seriously by educational institutions. Schools possess significant potential to cultivate discipline through religious activities, one of which is congregational prayer. Congregational prayer is not merely a worship ritual but also a means of character formation that emphasizes punctuality, obedience, and responsibility. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with data collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The research informants include the school principal, Islamic education teachers, homeroom teachers, and students. Data analysis was carried out through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, with triangulation techniques used to ensure data validity. The findings show that there are five strategies used in fostering students’ disciplinary character through congregational prayer, namely: (1) providing understanding, (2) teacher role-modelling, (3) student mentoring, (4) supervision, and (5) reward and punishment.