Reward and Punishment Strategies in Character Building of Students with Special Needs
Keywords:
Rewards, Punishments, Character, Special Educational Needs StudentsAbstract
This study explores how Islamic Education teachers adapt reward and punishment strategies to nurture morality among primary special needs students. Using a qualitative case study involving seven experienced teachers, data were collected over 12 months through interviews, observations, and documents, and were analysed thematically. Four themes emerged: reward types, reward strategies, punishment types, and punishment principles. Teachers prioritised personalised verbal and non-verbal rewards that enhanced motivation and moral understanding, while rejecting harmful punishments in favour of reflective and empathetic methods. Although limited to PPKI primary settings, the study reinforces the value-based, ethical application of behaviour management in Islamic moral education.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Nursafra Mohd Zhaffar, Norafizah Mustafa, Mahfuzah Mohammed Zabidi, Laili Ramadani
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