Epistemological Foundations of Character Education Management Based on Local Values: The Case of Pancawaluya

Abstract

This study examined the epistemological foundations of character education management based on local values through the framework of Pancawaluya in West Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted to address the limited integration of local value systems in educational decision-making. A qualitative conceptual approach was employed through a review of scholarly literature and policy documents published between 2015 and 2025, complemented by limited interviews with curriculum developers and school supervisors to provide contextual understanding. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key epistemological perspectives underlying character education management. The findings indicated that Pancawaluya functioned as a set of living values rooted in social practices and intergenerational traditions. The analysis further showed that effective character education management required the integration of positivist, constructivist, and critical epistemological perspectives. This integration produced a hybrid managerial rationality that combined data-based accountability, participatory meaning-making, and reflective consideration of justice and student well-being. The study concluded that local values could serve not only as instructional content but also as an epistemological foundation for decision-making in character education. These findings provided insights for strengthening value-based educational management.