Strategy for Developing Students' Morals at the Makassar Industrial Technology Vocational High School

Abstract

This study analyzes strategies for developing students’ morals at SMK SMTI Makassar, including supporting and inhibiting factors and the school’s efforts to strengthen student character. A qualitative descriptive design with a phenomenological approach was employed. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that moral development is implemented comprehensively through religious and character habituation, teacher and staff exemplarity, integration of moral values into classroom learning, and extracurricular activities. These strategies are reinforced by a religious and disciplined school culture, supporting facilities, school management commitment, and parental involvement. Major obstacles include diverse family backgrounds, peer-environment influences, limited self-awareness among some students, disciplinary violations, and distractions related to digital media use. The school responds through parent communication, mentoring, reinforcement of teacher role modeling, and regulation of gadget use. The findings highlight the importance of integrating religious values, industrial discipline, exemplarity, and school–family collaboration in vocational student moral development.