Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Religius Melalui Program Al Islam Dan Kemuhammadiyahan Pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19 Di SMP Muhammadiyah Plus Kota Salatiga Tahun Pelajaran 2020/2021

Character is the initial capital in preparing the nation's generation, starting from character, everything related to life matters becomes the foundation of how to build life with others, the environment and with God. School institutions are the main focus for instilling these character values. The Covid-19 Pandemic period is an important moment, how to strengthen character education so that character degradation does not occur. SMP Muhammadiyah Plus Salatiga City became the object of research to find out how to strengthen religious character education that was applied during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period and what were the supporting and inhibiting factors. This research is qualitative with a descriptive approach. This research focuses on the type of field research (Field Research). Data collection methods used are; interviews, observations and document review. Meanwhile, data analysis was carried out in several stages, namely; 1). Data reduction, 2). Presentation of data, and 3). Drawing conclusions. The results of the research, data analysis, and conclusions obtained information that the implementation of Strengthening Religious Character Education at SMP Muhammadiyah Plus Salatiga City during the Covid-19 Pandemic through the Al Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan programs went quite well, namely through distance learning in a network with using whatsapp learning media, zoom meeting, google meet, google classroom, and youtube. The programs carried out are; tahfidz, tahsin, alms from home, daily worship control journal, sons and daughters, virtual Hizbul Wathan, virtual Tapak Suci, and home visits. The method used is by giving examples, advice, telling stories, paying attention, applying discipline, asking questions, and giving awards and sanctions. During distance learning in the network there are advantages including; the school has new learning infrastructure, the competence of educators is increasing, the school has a business entity in the form of youtube. While the shortcomings include; there is a rift in the emotional closeness of teachers with students, some students are dependent on gadgets, and the busy work of parents of students so that family assistance is not optimal. Keywords: strengthening character education, religious, al-Islam and kemuhammadiyahan, the covid-19 pandemic