Cendekia : Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat

This issue brings together a range of scholarly articles that reflect contemporary dynamics in education and community empowerment across formal, nonformal, and socio-cultural contexts in Indonesia. The published studies explore innovations in early childhood learning through the use of digital media, educational games, and the integration of local culture to create meaningful and contextual learning experiences; the strengthening of basic literacy skills among elementary school students as a foundation for early literacy development; and the enhancement of community competencies through vocational education and training aimed at improving employability and economic self-reliance. In addition, the issue presents conceptual and empirical discussions on the relevance of Pancasila values within the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum at the secondary education level, as well as analyses of multicultural education from the perspective of Islamic law that emphasize justice, tolerance, and equality in plural societies. Collectively, these articles underscore the strategic role of education in fostering individual capacity, empowering communities, reinforcing national character, and promoting socially grounded transformation rooted in local, national, and religious values.