Integrating Local Wisdom into Literacy Education: The Role of Punakawan in Shaping Elementary Students’ Character within the Merdeka Curriculum

Veronika Unun Pratiwi, Farida Nugrahani, Arin Arianti, Nurnaningsih Nurnaningsih, Suhailee Sonhui

Abstract


This study explores the potential of Punakawan storytelling, featuring the Javanese puppet figures Semar, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong, as an innovative medium to promote Indonesian language literacy and character education in primary schools using the Merdeka Curriculum. The study is inspired by persistent problems of low literacy achievement, as demonstrated by the 2022 PISA results, as well as the growing issue of moral degradation among Indonesian youth in the digital age. Data from five elementary schools in Central Java and Yogyakarta were analyzed using thematic content analysis and source triangulation to map the alignment between Punakawan values and the six dimensions of the Pancasila Student Profile. The findings indicate that Punakawan narratives include fundamental principles such as justice (Semar), honesty and responsibility (Gareng), creativity and critical thinking (Petruk), and openness and solidarity (Bagong). Their humorous but philosophical dialogues serve as a pedagogical bridge for integrating literacy skills, reading comprehension, writing, and storytelling with character development in engaging and accessible ways for young learners. Practical techniques include creating Punakawan-based learning modules, acting out narrative dramatizations, and producing literacy projects like story writing and comics. The study also identifies obstacles, including teachers' poor understanding of wayang, resource limitations, and low student engagement in local culture, and proposes remedies through teacher training, school-community partnership, and authentic measurement. This study advances both theory and practice by demonstrating how local wisdom can be systematically rejuvenated to solve current educational concerns. It advises establishing a Punakawan-based teaching module and performing additional empirical studies to test its effectiveness, ensuring that cultural heritage becomes a strategic bridge toward meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready education.


Keywords


Punakawan Narrative; Literacy Development; Character Education; Pancasila Student Profile; Merdeka Curriculum

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v53.2.7549

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