Reconceptualizing Cultural Preservation in Education: The Role of School-Based Karawitan Extracurricular Activities in Sustaining Local Wisdom

Abstract

This study addresses the limited attention given to extracurricular activities as sustainable mechanisms for cultural preservation within formal education. While prior research has predominantly focused on curriculum-based approaches, this study reconceptualizes extracurricular practices as dynamic socio-cultural learning spaces. Grounded in sociocultural theory and experiential learning, this research employs a qualitative case study design conducted at a vocational high school in Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving students, instructors, and school administrators. The findings reveal that Karawitan extracurricular activities function as (1) cultural transmission spaces, (2) identity construction arenas, and (3) community-based cultural sustainability platforms. This study proposes a conceptual model of “extracurricular-based cultural preservation,” contributing to the literature on culturally responsive education by extending the role of informal learning environments in sustaining local wisdom. The findings offer practical implications for integrating cultural heritage into school systems amid globalization pressures.