Development of a Participatory Community Education Management Model in the Implementation of Social Policy, Tarutung 2025

Situmeang, Wesli H.
Panjaitan, Binur
Pasaribu, Andar Gunawan

IJETH
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): June 2025

This research aims to Analyse the gap between social policy and the implementation of community participation in village deliberations, Identify the main obstacles that lead to low community involvement in village decision-making, Develop and test the effectiveness of the Participatory Education Management Model as an innovative approach to increase community participation in social policy, Evaluate changes in communication patterns and the quality of citizen proposals after the model is implemented, Develop participatory education-based policy recommendations to increase transparency and democracy in village social policy management. This research uses a pure qualitative approach with Borg & Gall's Research and Development (R&D) method, as well as the Dick & Cerey to systematically develop and test the model. Data were collected through a literature study of regulations related to social policy and community participation. In-depth interviews with villagers, village heads, community leaders, and village officials. Direct observation in village meetings before and after the model was implemented. Focus group discussions (FGDs) to identify barriers, evaluate the effectiveness of the model, and develop policy recommendations. Thematic analysis to explore patterns of change in community participation in village meetings. Data Triangulation to compare results from different sources and ensure the validity of findings. Before the model was implemented, community participation was only around 20%, after the model was implemented it increased to 60%. Women and youth are more actively involved where previously women's participation was only 10% and youth 5%, after the model was implemented it increased to 45% and 35%, the quality of community proposals is more data and fact-based and after receiving participatory education, residents are more confident in preparing proposals based on real needs and village social policies, village officials are more open to the aspirations of residents where before the model was implemented, decisions in village meetings were dominated by the village head and village officials. After the model was implemented, village officials were more active in listening to and considering villagers' proposals. The model is effective in improving transparency and democracy in village social policy, so participatory education is proven as an approach that can strengthen deliberation-based decision-making.