Obstacles and challenges in fostering civic dispositions through pancasila education lessons for grade viii students at SMP Negeri 1 Jenar

Abstract

Although Pancasila Education aims to foster civic disposition, its implementation among Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 1 Jenar still faces obstacles. This qualitative case study describes those obstacles and analyzes the Pancasila Education teacher’s strategies to overcome them. Conducted at SMP Negeri 1 Jenar, Sragen Regency, it used purposive sampling: the Pancasila Education teacher, Guidance and Counseling teacher, principal, vice-principal for student affairs, and 12 Grade VIII students. Data were collected through structured interviews, observation, and documentation, validated by source and technique triangulation, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model: data collection, reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. Findings show obstacles including low student learning motivation, disparities in academic ability, unfavorable family environments, social environmental influences, limited teaching methods, and social media impact. To address these, the teacher uses educational rewards and punishments, staged material tailored to student abilities, personal approaches, learning environment management and coordination with the Guidance and Counseling teacher, and restrictions on mobile phone use with guidance on social media. These strategies support responsibility, discipline, and tolerance as key civic disposition indicators. Unlike previous studies examining obstacles or teacher roles separately, this study offers an integrated, contextual analysis of both within one junior high school, highlighting the interplay of classroom instruction, family, peers, social environment, and social media. As a qualitative study, it does not measure strategy effectiveness; it describes and analyzes how the teacher addresses the obstacles. The findings provide practical insights for developing responsibility, discipline, and tolerance in Pancasila Education.