THE PRINCIPAL’S TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP APPROACH BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM IN STRENGTHENING THE CHARACTER OF STUDENTS

This study aims to describe the process of applying local cultural moral values (LCMV) that have not been prioritized by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, as the values of the primary character standards in schools. Besides, this study also describes the principal's transformational leadership behavior (TLB), based on the local culture teaching dimension approach. This research used a qualitative approach, case study design. The data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation studies to achieve the research objectives. Data analysis used a modified analytic analysis method. Meanwhile, the data validity was used to reveal the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The results of the study demonstrate that LCMV supports strengthening the character of students, and the application of TLB based on the local culture teaching dimension approach is severely useful in optimizing the implementation of character education strengthening programs (CESP). This research was conducted in 2018 – 2019, at the State Junior High School 1, Private Catholic Junior High School, and Private Islamic Junior High School in the West Flores region, Indonesia. The contribution of this research is to position the moral values of the "Lonto Leok" culture of the Manggarai community as local cultural assets that support the formation of student character. Also, the dimensions of teaching lonto leok culture affect effectively supporting the principal's transformational leadership behavior, so that the program to strengthen character education is optimally implemented