<![CDATA[ABSTRACT Bullying is one of the problems that can hinder students’ social, emotional, and academic development, making preventive efforts through character education strengthening essential within school culture and learning activities. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of character education strengthening in preventing and reducing bullying behavior among students at MI Muhammadiyah Nunu. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving the principal, teachers, and students. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings revealed that bullying behavior was predominantly verbal and nonverbal, with varying levels of intensity across grade levels. Character education strengthening was implemented through religious habituation activities, the 5S culture (smile, greeting, salutation, politeness, and courtesy), teacher role modeling, collaborative activities, school regulations, and cooperation with parents. These programs successfully instilled religious values, discipline, responsibility, tolerance, empathy, and mutual respect, which contributed to increasing students’ awareness of the negative impacts of bullying and fostering more positive social interactions. Although several cases of verbal and nonverbal bullying were still identified, their intensity tended to decrease as the programs were implemented consistently. It can be concluded that strengthening character education is an effective strategy for preventing and reducing bullying behavior while supporting the creation of a safe, comfortable, and conducive school environment for students’ development. ABSTRAK Bullying merupakan salah satu permasalahan yang dapat menghambat perkembangan sosial, emosional, dan akademik peserta didik sehingga diperlukan upaya pencegahan melalui penguatan pendidikan karakter yang terintegrasi dalam budaya sekolah dan proses pembelajaran. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis implementasi penguatan pendidikan karakter dalam pencegahan dan pengurangan perilaku bullying pada peserta didik di MI Muhammadiyah Nunu. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Data diperoleh melalui observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi yang melibatkan kepala madrasah, guru, dan peserta didik. Analisis data dilakukan melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perilaku bullying yang ditemukan didominasi oleh bullying verbal dan nonverbal dengan intensitas yang bervariasi pada setiap jenjang kelas. Penguatan pendidikan karakter dilaksanakan melalui pembiasaan keagamaan, budaya 5S (senyum, salam, sapa, sopan, santun), keteladanan guru, kegiatan kolaboratif, penerapan tata tertib, serta kerja sama dengan orang tua. Program tersebut berhasil menanamkan nilai religius, disiplin, tanggung jawab, toleransi, empati, dan sikap saling menghormati yang berdampak pada meningkatnya kesadaran peserta didik terhadap dampak bullying serta terciptanya interaksi sosial yang lebih positif. Meskipun masih ditemukan beberapa kasus bullying verbal dan nonverbal, intensitasnya cenderung menurun seiring pelaksanaan program secara berkelanjutan. Disimpulkan bahwa penguatan pendidikan karakter merupakan strategi yang efektif dalam mencegah dan mengurangi perilaku bullying serta mendukung terciptanya lingkungan madrasah yang aman, nyaman, dan kondusif bagi perkembangan peserta didik.]]>
