Spiritual Education as a Catalyst for Quality Learning: Empirical Evidence from Madrasahs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i3.213Keywords:
Educational quality enhancement, Faith-based pedagogy, School climate, Teacher professionalismAbstract
Improving the quality of education in madrasahs (Islamic schools) remains a concern, as these institutions strive to balance the development of spiritual values and professional proficiency with supportive learning environments. This study addresses ongoing debates about the quantifiable effects of faith-based pedagogy by examining how spiritual education, teacher professionalism, and school atmosphere influence educational quality. A quantitative design was employed involving 312 purposively selected madrasah teachers, and data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The findings show that while the impact of spiritual education (β = 0.008) is statistically insignificant, the school environment (β = 0.568) and teacher professionalism (β = 0.318) considerably improve educational quality. These results highlight the importance of promoting professional competence and a supportive institutional environment to enhance madrasah performance. Meanwhile, the limited impact of spiritual education suggests the need for a more pedagogically grounded, evidence-based integration of spiritual values into instructional practices.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, A. (2018). Cultivating morals students through character education: A case study. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 12(3), 457–463. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v12i3.7195
Abidin, J., Hilmiyati, F., & Zohriah, A. (2024). Unravelling the dynamics of madrasah principal performance and teacher quality: A literature review. Tarbawi: Jurnal Keilmuan Manajemen Pendidikan, 10(01), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.32678/tarbawi.v10i01.9337
Ainscow, M. (2020). Promoting inclusion and equity in education: Lessons from international experiences. Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy, 6(1), 7–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2020.1729587
Aminullah, A., Mujahidin, M., Yussuf, A., Syahabuddin, S., & Salenda, K. (2024). The impact of madrasah integration in the national education system on the academic quality of madrasah aliyah alumni in South Sulawesi. Ulumuna, 28(2), 1017–1048. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v28i2.1091
Amsalu, A., & Belay, S. (2024). Analyzing the contribution of school climate to academic achievement using structural equation modeling. SAGE Open, 14(1), 21582440241227271. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241227271
Atstsaury, S., Hadiyanto, H., & Supian, S. (2024). Principal’s Strategy to Improve Teachers Professional Competence. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i1.775
Bakar, M. A., Umroh, K. A., & Hameed, F. (2023). Improving Quality Islamic Education for Today’s Generation. At-Tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal, 2(2), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v2i2.42
Carr-Hill, R. (2023). Education Sector Plans and Their Implementation in Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003264002
Daily, S. M., Mann, M. J., Kristjansson, A. L., Smith, M. L., & Zullig, K. J. (2019). School climate and academic achievement in middle and high school students. Journal of School Health, 89(3), 173–180. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josh.12726
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning policy institute.
Dewi, R., & Khotimah, S. H. (2020). Pengaruh profesionalisme dan disiplin kerja guru terhadap peningkatan mutu pendidikan di sekolah dasar. Elementary: Islamic Teacher Journal, 8(2), 279. http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/elementary.v8i2.7839
Egel, E., & Fry, L. W. (2017). Spiritual leadership as a model for Islamic leadership. Public Integrity, 19(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2016.1200411
Falah, S., Hadjar, I., Sobirin, M., & Idaini, M. W. (2025). CORE-PL Model and Student Independence: A Quantitative Study on Fiqh Learning Outcomes and Motivation in Secondary Schools. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 6(1), 245–262. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v6i1.1406
Finch, J. E., Akhavein, K., Patwardhan, I., & Clark, C. A. (2023). Teachers’ self-efficacy and perceptions of school climate are uniquely associated with students’ externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 85, 101512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101512
Fraser-Pearce, J. (2022). Spiritual education as a subspecies of relational education? British Journal of Religious Education, 44(1), 112–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2021.1877613
Gunawan, I., & Adha, M. A. (2021). The effect of instructional, transformational and spiritual leadership on elementary school teachers’ performance and students’ achievements. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 40(1), 17–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.21831/cp.v40i1.35641
Hair, J. F. (2014). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage.
Halik, A., Suredah, S., & Ahdar, A. (2018). The influence of emotional and spiritual intelligence of educator towards learning quality improvement. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research. 5th International Conference on Community Development (AMCA 2018), Manila, Philipines. https://repository.iainpare.ac.id/id/eprint/1075/
Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2015). Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school. Teachers College Press.
Isa, M., Neliwati, N., & Hadijaya, Y. (2024). Quality Improvement Management in Teacher Professional Development. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(2), 136–147. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i2.782
Juhaeni, A., Sanusi, A., Wasliman, I., & Hanafiah, H. (2021). Strategic management of quality improvement of madrasah aliyah graduates in modern Islamic boarding schools. Tarbawi: Jurnal Keilmuan Manajemen Pendidikan, 7(01), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.32678/tarbawi.v7i01.4179
Juhji, J., Syarifudin, E., Supardi, S., Paiman, P., Indriana, D., Susanto, S., Ruhiawati, I. Y., & Rahmawati, I. (2023). Exploring the relationship between teacher job satisfaction and professional development in urban schools during a pandemic. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 12(4), 1755–1763. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v12i4.24510
Karim, A., Purnomo, H., Fikriyah, F., & Kardiyati, E. N. (2020). A charismatic relationship: How a Kyai’s charismatic leadership and society’s compliance are constructed? Journal Of Indonesian Economy & Business, 35(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.22146/jieb.54705
Katsantonis, I. G. (2019). Investigation of the impact of school climate and teachers’ self-efficacy on job satisfaction: A cross-cultural approach. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 10(1), 119–133. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10010011
Lovat, T., & Toomey, R. (2009). Values education and quality teaching. Springer.
Luo, T., & Derakhshan, A. (2024). Examining the role of classroom climate and teacher-student relationships in EFL students’ perceived learning outcomes: A self-determination theory perspective. Learning and Motivation, 88, 102062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2024.102062
Mahmood, W., Ismail, S. N., & Omar, M. N. (2024). Mediating role of school climate and job satisfaction in total quality management and school performance. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 21(2), 117–146. https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2024.21.2.5
Mariani, A., Warlizasusi, J., Usman, M. U. K., & Harahap, E. K. (2024). Principal Supervision in Improving the Quality of Learning Administration Services at the State Islamic Elementary School. Kharisma: Jurnal Administrasi Dan Manajemen Pendidikan, 3(2), 135–148. https://doi.org/10.59373/kharisma.v3i2.53
McChesney, K., & Cross, J. (2023). How school culture affects teachers’ classroom implementation of learning from professional development. Learning Environments Research, 26(3), 785–801. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-023-09454-0
Mulang, H., & Putra, A. H. P. K. (2023). Exploring the implementation of ethical and spiritual values in high school education: A case study in Makassar, Indonesia. Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education, 3(1), 01–13. https://doi.org/10.52970/grsse.v3i1.105
Musa, S., Suherman, A. M., Sujarwo, & Nurhayati, S. (2024). Continuous professional growth: A study of educators’ commitment to lifelong learning. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 43(2), 502–512. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v43i2.66654
Nabilla, Y. (2024). Pengaruh iklim sekolah terhadap mutu pembelajaran di sekolah dasar (sd) swasta se-kecamatan nanggalo. Journal of Practice Learning and Educational Development, 4(3), 214–218. https://doi.org/10.58737/jpled.v4i3.365
Nasrollahi, Z., Eskandari, N., Adaryani, M. R., & Tasuji, M. H. H. R. (2020). Spirituality and effective factors in education: A qualitative study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_430_19
Nasution, M., Padya, A. D., Sitepu, M. S., Wanda, K., & Ayu, L. (2025). Pop-Up Books as a Learning Innovation: Their Influence on Elementary School Students’ Motivation to Learn. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 8(2), 436–443. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v8i2.940
Nugraha, R. S., & Dekawati, I. (2023). The influence of teacher professionalism and school culture on education quality at private vocational high schools in Indramayu. Jurnal Inovasi Dan Manajemen Pendidikan, 3(2), 116–133. https://doi.org/10.12928/jimp.v3i2.9374
Nurjayanti, N., Ririen, D., & Susilawati, S. (2024). The effect of spiritual quotient on students’ learning achievement through students’ learning efforts. Cendekia: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, Bahasa Dan Pendidikan, 4(1), 232–244. https://doi.org/10.55606/cendikia.v4i1.2510
Qamariah, H., & Hercz, M. (2025). How EFL Instructors Improve Their Professionalism: The Voice from Indonesian Higher Education Institutions. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 13(1), 409–436. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v13i1.1507
Reave, L. (2005). Spiritual values and practices related to leadership effectiveness. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(5), 655–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.003
Riski, A., Chande, A., & Adriantoni. (2024). Implementation of a Digital Leadership Model in Improving the Quality of Islamic Boarding Schools. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(2), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i2.566
Rofiq, M. H., Shah, A. A., Alai, A., & Istiqomah, I. (2025). Enhancing Learning Motivation in Islamic Religious Education: The Role of Sahabat Anak Muslim Comics among Elementary School Students. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 8(1), 255–268. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v8i1.899
Salim, A. (2015). Manajemen pendidikan karakter di madrasah: Sebuah konsep dan penerapannya. Tarbawi: Jurnal Keilmuan Manajemen Pendidikan, 1(02), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32678/tarbawi.v1i02.1999
Salim, S., Azwardi, A., Ritonga, M., & Widiastuty, R. (2021). Leadership role of madrasah aliyah head in improving the quality of education. Tarbawi: Jurnal Keilmuan Manajemen Pendidikan, 7(01), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.32678/tarbawi.v7i01.4258
Samad, S. A. A., Gade, S., Basri, H., Silahuddin, S., & Ariani, S. (2023). Teacher’s Spiritual Competence and Its Implication in Islamic Religious Education Learning in Pidie, Aceh. Ulumuna, 27(2), 624–648. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i2.710
Subaidi, S. (2020). Strengthening character education in Indonesia: Implementing values from moderate Islam and the Pancasila. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 11(2), 120–132. https://jsser.org/index.php/jsser/article/view/2263
Thapa, A., Cohen, J., Guffey, S., & Higgins-D’Alessandro, A. (2013). A review of school climate research. Review of Educational Research, 83(3), 357–385. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654313483907
Wang, M.-T., & Degol, J. L. (2016). School climate: A review of the construct, measurement, and impact on student outcomes. Educational Psychology Review, 28(2), 315–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-015-9319-1
Zhou, Z., Tavan, H., Kavarizadeh, F., Sarokhani, M., & Sayehmiri, K. (2024). The relationship between emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and student achievement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 217. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05208-5
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Badrudin Badrudin, Juhji Juhji, Waesul Kurni

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





