<![CDATA[The moral crisis among the younger generation, characterized by a decline in the value of honesty, a decrease in discipline, and a weakening of responsibility, highlights the urgent need to strengthen character education in schools. This study aims to analyze the role of character education in fostering the moral character of seventh-grade students at MMT Mercubuana Junior High School in Tulang Bawang Barat and to identify factors hindering its implementation. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques including observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model. The results indicate that the school implements holistic strategies, including daily routines (5S culture, cleaning duty, group prayer), the integration of character values into Islamic Education (PAI) lessons, literacy activities, and the Scouting extracurricular program. These efforts effectively increased attendance discipline from 75% to 92% and reduced academic dishonesty from 15 cases to 3 cases per semester. However, implementation faces internal barriers such as low student motivation (35%) and the unstable psychological characteristics of adolescents, as well as external barriers including limited family involvement (40%), the negative influence of social media, and peer influence. The research recommendation is to strengthen school-family-community synergy through parenting education, digital literacy, peer mentoring programs, and continuous monitoring to ensure the comprehensive and sustainable internalization of character values.]]>
