ABSTRACT

This study uses a qualitative research method to describe social practices, implementation of school rules, and challenges in developing character education at a “risk school” for students at risk of dropping out of education. It was conducted at a private senior high school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (namely SMA Gadjah Mada), and its research subjects were school administrators, teachers, and students. The data collection techniques used were observation and interviews. The results show that the school faced difficulties in developing the character of its students. Students in the school have low academic achievement, poor discipline, and the potential for violence or bullying, and the characteristics of the students do not support the implementation of school rules. School acts as a field for the contestation of values. The challenges in developing character education can be categorized into two groups: structural challenges and cultural challenges. Structural challenges are related to school policies in developing school programs that are appropriate for students’ characteristics, while cultural challenges are related to the development of the character values of students.