Improving Graduate Quality in Vocational High Schools through Pesantren Curriculum Integration: A Vocational Approach

Authors

  • Afifah Hidayati Universitas Islam Bunga Bangsa Cirebon
  • Farihin Nur Universitas Islam Bunga Bangsa Cirebon
  • Amin Haedari Universitas Islam Bunga Bangsa Cirebon
  • Abdul Karim Universitas Muhammadiyah Cirebon
  • Jalaludin Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam NU Assalafie
  • Upid Abdul Mupid Universitas Islam Bunga Bangsa Cirebon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31538/ndhq.v10i3.264

Keywords:

Management, Pesantren-Based Curriculum, Graduate Quality

Abstract

This study aims to examine the management of curriculum integration in pesantren-based vocational high schools (SMK) and evaluate its effectiveness in improving the quality of graduates. The research was conducted at SMK Khas Kempek Cirebon using a qualitative interpretive approach. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and curriculum documentation, with validation achieved through triangulation. Curriculum integration involved planning with input from the foundation as the primary stakeholder and the design of a pesantren-based learning program supported by a SWOT analysis of national education standards. The findings reveal that curriculum integration was systematically managed through a combination of general and religious instruction, supervised by the principal and the structural team. However, the evaluation conducted was still descriptive and lacked quantitative indicators to measure graduate improvement. Student participation in pesantren-based learning activities yielded positive results, with more than 70% of final-year students undertaking internships at pesantren-run institutions. Additionally, more than 80% of students demonstrated competencies in religious activities such as Quran memorization and funeral rites. This study was limited to a single institution, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. The research did not investigate the long-term outcomes of curriculum integration or the impact of socio-cultural factors on student success. Future research could expand this study by including multiple pesantren-based SMKs to provide a broader perspective. This study recommends the development of a graduate-based evaluation system, continuous teacher training, and strengthening strategic collaboration between pesantren and SMKs in educational planning. The contribution of this study is to develop vocational education models that are more relevant to labor market needs while emphasizing moral and spiritual education.

References

Alfriansa Agustina, Anggara Setya Saputra, Devit Bagus Indranika, Suryoto, Oti Kusumaningsih, Johar Mamuri, & Emiraldo Win Pazqara. (2022). Enhancing Digital Literacy to Achieve a Golden Indonesia. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(10), 2091–2108. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i10.1920

Alim, A. A., Mugirah, M., Suwarno, S., & Murniati, N. A. N. (2024). Perencanaan strategis dengan analisis SWOT dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan dasar dan menengah. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 9(4), 112–125. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v9i04.20746

Awu, E. (2022). Total Quality Management and Organizational Success. International Journal of Academic and Applied Research (IJAAR), 6(1), 43–49. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358229721

Bwalya, A. R. (2023). Management- Is It Art Or Science ? Global Scientific Journals, 11(6). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23614773

Contreras-Villalobos, T., López, V., Baleriola, E., & González, L. (2023). Dropout in youth and adult education: a multilevel analysis of students and schools in Chile. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(June), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1163088

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Crisp, G. (2020). Measuring school performance: A multidimensional approach. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 24(3), 279–297.

Dumiyati. (2022). Manajemen kurikulum program keterampilan vokasional: Teori dan implementasi. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362834726_Manajemen_Kurikulum_Dumiyati_Program_Keterampilan_Vokasional_Teori_dan_Implementasi

Dz, A. S., Kulkarni, S., Karim, A., Muhammadun, & Jalaludin. (2024). The Managerial Roles of Leaders Pesantren-Based Rehabilitation Institutions in Overcoming Juvenile Delinquency. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 08(03), 717–731. https://doi.org/DOI: http://doi.org/10.33650/al-tanzim.v8i3.8309

Egessa, A., Nnyanzi, J. B., & Muwanga, J. (2021). ). Determinants of youth unemployment in Uganda: The role of gender, education, residence, and age. IZA Journal of Labor Policy, 11(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2478/izajolp-2021-0008

Fox, J., & Smeets, V. (2011). Does Input Quality Drive Measured Differences In Firm Productivity? International Economic Review, 52. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2354.2011.00656.x

Gayatri Basuki, Masduki Ahmad, & Siti Zulaikha . (2023). Implementation Of Merdeka Curriculum In Public School In Menteng Central Jakarta. International Conference on Digital Advance Tourism, Management and Technology, 1(2), 561–569. https://doi.org/10.56910/ictmt.v1i2.120

Hanif, M., Mukroji, Suwito, H., Mubaroq, A. C., & Dharin, A. (2024). Pesantren Resistance To Indonesia’S National Curriculum To Defend Its Curriculum Model. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(7), 1–32. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n7-049

Hanifah. (2023). Implementasi menejemen kurikulum pesantren dalam membentuk kompetensi santri putri di SMK Darussalam. At-Taysir: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Dakwah, 5(1), 45–58. https://e-jurnal.stitnurussalam.ac.id/index.php/at-taysir/article/download/193/33/321

Lamijan, N. U., & Hadi, S. S. (2022). Absorption Of Inner Vocational High School Graduatesin The Business World, Industry and The World Of Work. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(6), 6125–6133. https://www.journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/8531%0Ahttps://www.journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/download/8531/5586

Lavrinovicha, I., Lavrinenko, O., & Teivans-Treinovskis, J. (2015). Influence of Education on Unemployment Rate and Incomes of Residents. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 3824–3831. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1120

Lavy, S. (2020). A Review of Character Strengths Interventions in Twenty-First-Century Schools: their Importance and How they can be Fostered. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15(2), 573–596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9700-6

Lovren, V. O., Peeters, J., & Matović, N. (2019). Quality of Education: Global Development Goals and Local Strategies. Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy Faculty of Philosophy. https://files.core.ac.uk/download/pdf/287939865.pdf

Mahmudah, N. (2023). Manajemen kurikulum berbasis pesantren (Studi kasus di Madrasah Tsanawiyah Darul Huda Mayak Tonatan Ponorogo) [IAIN Ponorigi]. https://etheses.iainponorogo.ac.id/22142/1/NISAUL MAHMUDAH_502200022_MPI.pdf

Maisyura, Aisyah, T., & Nur Ilham, R. (2022). Transformational leadership In organizational redesign. Jurnal Ekonomi, 11(3), 478–488.

Malikhah, I. (2021). An Effect of Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Leading and Controlling of Operational Leadership. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 4(3), 4643–4652. https://www.bircu-journal.com/index.php/birci/article/download/2247/pdf

Marlina, M. (2022). Recreational Retribution Management. International Conference in Social Science, 3(1). https://jurnal.unmer.ac.id/index.php/iconiss

Marmoah, S., & Poerwanti, Suharno, J. I. S. (2022). Literacy culture management of elementary school in Indonesia. Heliyon, 8(4), e09315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09315

Martin, J., Elg, M., & Gremyr, I. (2020). The Many Meanings of Quality: Towards a Definition in Support of Sustainable Operations. Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, 0(0), 1–14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2020.1844564

Monteiro, A., Leite, C., Coppi, M., Fialho, I., & Cid, M. (2023). Education in emergency: Lessons learned about school management practices and digital technologies. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 8(1), 223–254. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1134984

Mwakalila, E. (2023). Income inequality: a recipe for youth unemployment in Africa. SN Business & Economics, 3(1), 15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-022-00394-0

Nasith, A. (2024). The Role of Kyai ’ s Charismatic Leadership in Mitigating Religious Intolerance and Radicalism in Pesantren. International Journal of Social Science and Religion (IJSSR, 5(2), 2723–5920. https://doi.org/DOI: https://doi.org/10.53639/ijssr.v5i2.238

Nasution, S., Asari, H., Al-Rasyid, H., Dalimunthe, R. A., & Rahman, A. (2024). Learning Arabic Language Sciences Based on Technology in Traditional Islamic Boarding Schools in Indonesia. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 77–102. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i1.4222

Nwoko, J. C., Emeto, T. I., Malau-Aduli, A. E. O., & Malau-Aduli, B. S. (2023). A Systematic Review of the Factors That Influence Teachers’ Occupational Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126070

Pagán-Castaño, E., Sánchez-García, J., Garrigos-Simon, F. J., & Guijarro-García, M. (2021). The influence of management on teacher well-being and the development of sustainable schools. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(5), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052909

Palah, S., Wasliman, I., Sauri, S., & Andriana Gaffar, M. (2022). Principal Strategic Management In Improving The Quality Of Education. International Journal of Educational Research & Social Sciences, 3(5), 2041–2051. https://doi.org/10.51601/ijersc.v3i5.497

Patria, A. S., Kristiana, N., Ekohariadi, E., Sutiadiningsih, A., Bayu, M., & Sampurno, T. (2024). Teaching Factory Management on Vocational High School Case Study : Arts and Creative Industry Competency. SAR Journal, 7(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.18421/SAR71

Rusilowati, U., & Wahyudi, W. (2020). The Significance of Educator Certification in Developing Pedagogy, Personality, Social and Professional Competencies. Atlantis Press: Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 409(SoRes 2019), 446–451. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200225.095

Şahin, F. (2021). The Role of School Administrators in Organizational Learning Processes. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 6(4), 833–868. https://doi.org/10.30828/REAL/2021.4.3

Shayan, N. F., Mohabbati-kalejahi, N., & Alavi, S. (2022). Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) as a Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ). Sustainability, 14, 1–27. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031222

Sodirin, S., Ahirudin, A., Nuzleha, N., Saleh, K., & Pujiati, A. (2023). Curriculum Management in Modern Boarding School. Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 12(02), 1851–1866. https://doi.org/10.30868/ei.v12i02.4317

Sugiyono. (2010). Metode Penelitian Pendidikan (Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kualitatif dan R&D). Alfabeta.

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Sulthon, S., & Munir, M. M. (2023). The Analysis of the Juvenile Delinquency Trigger Factors and the Handling Efforts. Proceedings Series on Social Sciences & Humanities, 12, 295–301. https://doi.org/10.30595/pssh.v12i.810

Susdarwono, E. T. (2022). Jurnal Ekonomi dan Statistik Indonesia Covid-19 : Will Indonesia Really Enjoy the Demographic Bonus Amid the. Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Statistik Indonesia, 2(2), 134–141. https://doi.org/10.11594/jesi.02.02.01

Timo, F., Mugiono, & Djawahir, A. H. (2019). The Effect Of Product Quality And Service Quality On Customer Loyalty Mediated By Customer Satisfaction (Evidence On Kharisma Store In Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara Province). South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 19(5), 13–26. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54783/ijsoc.v5i2.709

Warsito, T. (2019). Attaining The Demoghraphic Bonus In Indonesia. Jurnal Pajak Dan Keuangan Negara, 1(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31092/jpkn.v1i1.611

Yoana, Auwalin, I., & Rumayya. (2024). The role of vocational education on unemployment in Indonesia. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2340858. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2340858

Yuliani, Z., Amala, A., Safira, T., & Pratiwi, K. (2023). Model Pemanfaatan Teknologi Digital di Pesantren. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 1(2), 75–83.

Zahroh, L. A. (2022). Public Relations Management in Building School Image: A Case Study. AL-TANZIM: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 501–510. https://doi.org/10.33650/al-tanzim.v6i2.3434

Downloads

Published

2025-12-10

How to Cite

Afifah Hidayati, Farihin Nur, Amin Haedari, Abdul Karim, Jalaludin, & Upid Abdul Mupid. (2025). Improving Graduate Quality in Vocational High Schools through Pesantren Curriculum Integration: A Vocational Approach. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 10(3), 715–732. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndhq.v10i3.264

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2025): Transformative Islamic education management

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Afifah Hidayati, Farihin Nur, Amin Haedari, Abdul Karim, Jalaludin, Upid Abdul Mupid

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.