Local Wisdom as the Foundation of Multicultural Education in Indonesia

Muchammad Mugiono

doi:10.59923/council.v4i2.823

Authors

Muchammad Mugiono Universitas Negeri Semarang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59923/council.v4i2.823

Keywords:

Local wisdom, multicultural education, curriculum integration, Nusantara traditions, culturally responsive teaching

Abstract

Multicultural education in Indonesia often remains trapped in theoretical abstractions that are disconnected from the sociocultural realities of students. This study aims to examine local wisdom as a foundation for contextual multicultural education, identify multicultural values within various Indonesian traditions, and formulate strategies for their integration into learning processes. This research employs a systematic literature review with a qualitative-descriptive approach, analyzing data sourced from SINTA-accredited journals (2015–2025), textbooks, and conference proceedings. The findings indicate that Indonesian traditions such as Pela Gandong (Maluku), Mapalus (Minahasa), Ngayah (Bali), Ruwatan (Java), Grebeg-Sekaten (Yogyakarta-Solo), Cap Go Meh, and Lomban (Cirebon) inherently embody values of tolerance, equality, and cross-identity fraternity. Strategies for integrating such local wisdom can be implemented through formal curricula, extracurricular activities, project-based learning (PjBL), Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) approaches, and teacher modeling. Nevertheless, significant challenges persist in its implementation, specifically the scarcity of cultural documentation, insufficient teacher training, and the dominance of a centralized curriculum. This paper contributes to shifting the paradigm of multicultural education toward pedagogical practices rooted in local culture, while offering a practical framework for educators in the field.

References

Abdurrahman, U. I. N. K. H., & Pekalongan, W. (2023). International Conference on Islamic Studies 2023. International Conference on Islamic Studies, 34–41.

Alwi, M., Arnyana, I. B. P., Lasmawan, I. W., & Margunayasa, I. G. (2026). Development of a Natural and Social Sciences Teaching Module Oriented Towards Local Wisdom of Bebubus Lombok to Enhance Students’ Critical Thinking Skills. Educational Process International Journal, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2026.21.21

Banks, J. A. (2019). An Introduction to Multicultural Education (6th ed.). Pearson.

Bartels, D. (2017). Di Bawah Naungan Gunung Nunusaku: Muslim-Kristen Hidup Berdampingan di Maluku Tengah. Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia.

Chotimah, C., Fawaid, A., & Wafa, A. (2018). Integrasi nilai-nilai kearifan lokal dalam pendidikan multikultural di sekolah menengah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 245–268.

Fauzi, M., & Rahmatih, A. N. (2025). Culturally Responsive Teaching berbasis kearifan lokal dalam memperkuat identitas multikultural siswa. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan, 12(1), 45–60.

Japar, M., et al. (2022). Peran tokoh adat dalam pengembangan modul ajar muatan lokal berbasis kearifan budaya daerah. Jurnal Kebijakan dan Pengembangan Pendidikan, 10(2), 201–215.

Kistin Kamalia, N., Budiyanto, B., & Winingsih, E. (2026). Menuju Konseling Multikultural Kontekstual: Dekolonisasi Pengetahuan dan Penguatan Kearifan Lokal di Indonesia. Jurnal Locus Penelitian Dan Pengabdian, 5(4), 2630–2638. https://doi.org/10.58344/locus.v5i4.5765

Mulyangga, D., et al. (2024). Festival budaya lintas etnis: Strategi kolaboratif dalam pendidikan karakter di lingkungan sekolah. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Indonesia, 8(3), 289–305.

Patras, Y. E., Japar, M., Rahmawati, Y., & Hidayat, R. (2025). Integration of Culturally Responsive Teaching Approach, Local Wisdom, and Gamification in Pancasila Education to Develop Students’ Multicultural Competence. Educational Process International Journal, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.45

Riyanti, A., & Novitasari, N. (2021). PENDIDIKAN MULTIKULTURAL BERBASIS KEARIFAN LOKAL BAGI SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR. Jurnal Adat Dan Budaya Indonesia, 3(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.23887/jabi.v3i1.37780

Rohman, A. (2017). Tradisi Lomban sebagai perekat sosial masyarakat pesisir Cirebon. Jurnal Etnografi Budaya, 4(2), 90–105.

Rondonuwu, S. A. (2018). Mapalus: Tradisi Gotong Royong Masyarakat Minahasa. Pustaka Budaya.

Salim, A., & Aprison, W. (2024). Tantangan implementasi kurikulum berbasis kearifan lokal di era digital. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan dan Kurikulum, 12(2), 150–167.

Setiawan, B. (2019). Harmoni dalam keberagaman: Studi partisipasi lintas etnis pada perayaan Cap Go Meh di Singkawang. Jurnal Sosiologi Budaya, 6(1), 45–62.

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Supriyanto, A., & Herlambang, Y. T. (2025). Pembelajaran berbasis kearifan lokal terhadap peningkatan wawasan kebinekaan siswa. Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah, 15(3), 201–215.

Wahyuni, S., Zuhairi, A., Syafruddin, S., Cahyani, I., & Sulistyowati, H. (2026). Eco-cultural pedagogy in practice: local wisdom, student engagement, and environmental responsibility in rural Indonesia. Cogent Education, 13(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2026.2666429

Windia, W., et al. (2017). Subak dan Ngayah: Kearifan Lokal Masyarakat Bali. Udayana University Press.