Articles Open Access CC BY 4.0

Multicultural Values in Islamic Religious Education and Character Education for Equitable Learning: A PRISMA Systematic Review in the Context of Indonesian Pesantren-Based Schools

Authors

Article Integrity Crossmark: Check for updates
Article Metrics
649 Article Views 190 PDF Downloads 0 Crossref Citations

Abstract

Indonesia’s religiously diverse society requires Islamic Religious Education (IRE) to cultivate both religious commitment and respect for difference. This study examines multicultural values in the 2021 Grade 11 IRE and Character Education textbook used as the core learning resource in an Islamic boarding school-integrated vocational upper secondary school in Mojokerto, Indonesia. A directed qualitative content analysis of all 331 instructional pages across ten chapters used four core codes: tolerance, deliberative participation, equality, and justice. Tolerance is the most explicit value, especially through religious harmony and protection of human life. The text also promotes peaceful preaching, respectful disagreement, social-media ethics, gender equality and educational rights, and justice in civic governance. However, values are unevenly distributed and are more consistently assessed as individual moral commitments than as observable practices of equitable participation. The analysis identifies a textbook-task-assessment alignment gap: discussion and collaborative activities are present, but explicit assessment criteria for non-discrimination, inclusive voice, and the handling of prejudice are limited. The study contributes a value-to-pedagogy framework for curriculum refinement and teacher development that connects IRE with student dignity, social cohesion, and educational welfare.

References

1
[1] J. A. Banks, “Multicultural education: Historical development, dimensions, and practice,” Review of Research in Education, vol. 19, pp. 3–49, 1993. https://doi.org/10.2307/1167339
2
[2] M. Ainscow, “Promoting inclusion and equity in education: Lessons from international experiences,” Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 7–16, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2020.1729587
3
[3] A. M. Amor, M. Hagiwara, K. A. Shogren, J. R. Thompson, M. Á. Verdugo, K. M. Burke, and V. Aguayo, “International perspectives and trends in research on inclusive education: A systematic review,” International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 23, no. 12, pp. 1277–1295, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1445304
4
[4] K. Jayadi, A. Abduh, and M. Basri, “A meta-analysis of multicultural education paradigm in Indonesia,” Heliyon, vol. 8, no. 1, Art. no. e08828, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08828
5
[5] Raihani, “Report on multicultural education in pesantren,” Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 585–605, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2012.672255
6
[6] R. Mulyana, “Religious moderation in Islamic religious education textbook and implementation in Indonesia,” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, vol. 79, no. 1, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i1.8592
7
[7] H. Hajiannor, M. M. Nor, and M. Kurdi, “Analysis of the content and accuracy of multicultural values in Islamic Religious Education and Moral textbook,” AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 211–218, 2023. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i1.2859
8
[8] P. Z. Muntaha and I. S. Wekke, “Paradigma pendidikan Islam multikultural: Keberagamaan Indonesia dalam keberagaman,” Intizar, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 17–39, 2017. https://doi.org/10.19109/intizar.v23i1.1279
9
[9] J. Assayuthi, “Urgensi pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam multikultural,” Atthulab: Islamic Religion Teaching and Learning Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 240–254, 2020. https://doi.org/10.15575/ath.v5i2.8336
10
[10] Z. Syahbudin and M. Hanafi, “The model of learning design based on Islamic multicultural education to prevent conflicts of behavior,” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 155–168, 2018. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v3i2.1279
11
[11] I. Mardhiah, A. Hadiyanto, A. Amaliyah, and A. Hakam, “Developing learning competencies of multicultural and local wisdom values-based Islamic Religious Education in higher education in Indonesia,” Hayula: Indonesian Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 81–92, 2021. https://doi.org/10.21009/005.01.04
12
[12] M. Muhajir, U. Kultsum, M. M. Choiri, S. Mustonah, H. Kulkarni, and A. Karim, “Integrating multicultural values to foster tolerance and inclusivity in Islamic Religious Education,” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 17–32, 2025. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v11i1.44607
13
[13] M. Muqowim, Sibawaihi, and N. D. Alsulami, “Developing religious moderation in Indonesian Islamic schools through the implementation of the values of Islam wasatiyyah,” Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 207–222, 2022. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.2022.192-03
14
[14] B. Djamaluddin, S. Bahri, A. Halim, Nurlailah, and M. Chabibi, “Deradicalization through multicultural Islamic Religious Education at the Islamic university,” Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 646–663, 2024. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i3.34
15
[15] M. Wardi, M. U. Fithriyyah, Z. Fathorrahman, and T. Hidayat, “Implementation of religious moderation values through strengthening diversity tolerance in madrasah,” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 241–254, 2023. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v9i2.27952
16
[16] H. Pajarianto, I. Pribadi, and N. S. Galugu, “Youth religious moderation model and tolerance strengthening through intellectual humility,” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, vol. 79, no. 1, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i1.8196
17
[17] H. Pajarianto, I. Pribadi, and P. Sari, “Tolerance between religions through the role of local wisdom and religious moderation,” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, vol. 78, no. 4, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i4.7043
18
[18] M. Nasir and M. K. Rijal, “Keeping the middle path: Mainstreaming religious moderation through Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia,” Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 213–241, 2021. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.213-241
19
[19] M. I. Helmy, A. D. J. Kubro, and M. Ali, “The understanding of Islamic moderation (wasatiyyah al-Islam) and the hadiths on inter-religious relations in the Javanese pesantrens,” Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 377–401, 2021. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.377-401
20
[20] Raihani, “A model of Islamic teacher education for social justice in Indonesia: A critical pedagogy perspective,” Journal of Indonesian Islam, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 163–186, 2020. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2020.14.1.163-186
21
[21] G. Ladson-Billings, “Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy,” American Educational Research Journal, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 465–491, 1995. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312032003465
22
[22] G. Gay, “Preparing for culturally responsive teaching,” Journal of Teacher Education, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 106–116, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487102053002003
23
[23] P. C. Gorski, “What we’re teaching teachers: An analysis of multicultural teacher education coursework syllabi,” Teaching and Teacher Education, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 309–318, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2008.07.008
24
[24] A. Van Mieghem, K. Verschueren, K. Petry, and E. Struyf, “An analysis of research on inclusive education: A systematic search and meta review,” International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 675–689, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1482012
25
[25] H.-F. Hsieh and S. E. Shannon, “Three approaches to qualitative content analysis,” Qualitative Health Research, vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 1277–1288, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687
26
[26] S. Elo and H. Kyngäs, “The qualitative content analysis process,” Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 107–115, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
27
[27] V. Fereday and E. Muir-Cochrane, “Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development,” International Journal of Qualitative Methods, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 80–92, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690600500107
28
[28] U. H. Graneheim and B. Lundman, “Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness,” Nurse Education Today, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 105–112, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001
29
[29] L. S. Nowell, J. M. Norris, D. E. White, and N. J. Moules, “Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria,” International Journal of Qualitative Methods, vol. 16, pp. 1–13, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
30
[30] B. C. O’Brien et al., “Standards for reporting qualitative research: A synthesis of recommendations,” Academic Medicine, vol. 89, no. 9, pp. 1245–1251, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000388
31
[31] A. K. Shenton, “Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects,” Education for Information, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 63–75, 2004. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
32
[32] I. Korstjens and A. Moser, “Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: Trustworthiness and publishing,” European Journal of General Practice, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 120–124, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2017.1375092
33
[33] K. Harto, “Model pengembangan pendidikan agama Islam berbasis multikultural,” Al-Tahrir: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 407–430, 2014. https://doi.org/10.21154/al-tahrir.v14i2.122
34
[34] S. Sismanto and M. Riswadi, “Forms of cooperation between religions: A tafsir perspective,” SYAMIL: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 21–38, 2021. https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v9i1.3201
35
[35] M. Saharuddin and S. W. H. Das, “Multicultural-based Islamic Religious Education learning design in Indonesia,” Nusantara Education, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 11–20, 2024. https://doi.org/10.66325/nusantaraeducation.v3i2.114
36
[36] M. Efendi and H. Lien, “Implementation of multicultural education cooperative learning to develop character, nationalism and religious,” Journal of Teaching and Learning in Elementary Education, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 20–33, 2021. https://doi.org/10.33578/jtlee.v4i1.7817
37
[37] A. Rosyad and M. Ma’arif, “Paradigma pendidikan demokrasi dan pendidikan Islam dalam menghadapi tantangan globalisasi di Indonesia,” Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 75–99, 2020. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v3i1.491
38
[38] U. Ulfa, M. Ch., S. Susilawati, and A. Barizi, “Multicultural Islamic education in Indonesia: The urgency value of model and method,” ADDIN, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 131–154, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21043/addin.v16i1.15787
39
[39] W. Katerina, H. Hayumuti, and M. Hadi, “The implementation of equity pedagogy in multicultural Islamic education at SMA Muhammadiyah 10 Surabaya,” At-Ta’dib: Jurnal Ilmiah Prodi Pendidikan Agama Islam, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 13–26, 2025. https://doi.org/10.47498/tadib.v17i1.4060
40
[40] A. Khodijah, M. Rahmat, S. Anwar, and R. A. Rashid, “Integration of Islamic education values in multicultural education: A perspective of student mental health,” Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 85–101, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21093/sajie.v8i1.10605
41
[41] M. Marzuki, M. Miftahuddin, and M. Murdiono, “Multicultural education in salaf pesantren and prevention of religious radicalism in Indonesia,” Cakrawala Pendidikan, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 12–25, 2020. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v39i1.22900

Author Biographies

Ariffah Nargis Tasliyah

Universitas Yudharta Pasuruan Indonesia

Department of Islamic Religious Education

Munif

Universitas Yudharta Pasuruan Indonesia

Department of Islamic Religious Education

Askhabul Kirom

Universitas Yudharta Pasuruan Indonesia

Department of Islamic Religious Educa

Mochammad Faiz Sholichin

Universitas KH. Abdul Chalim Mojokerto Indonesia

Department of Islamic Religious Education

License

Download Article

Downloads

Article Tools

View Issue

Citation Impact

Crossref Cited-by

0
0 citations

Counted from citation links between Crossref-registered works.

Last checked 13 Nov 2026.