PRINCIPAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FOR IMPROVING GRADUATE QUALITY IN TAHFIDZUL QUR’AN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN LAMPUNG

Abstract

Private junior high schools integrated with Islamic boarding schools must sustain public trust while producing graduates who are academically capable, religiously grounded, and strong in character. This study examines how principals formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies for improving graduate quality in three Tahfidzul Qur’an junior high schools in Lampung Province. Qur’an memorization operates both as religious identity and as institutional differentiation in a competitive private-school environment. The study employed qualitative field research with a phenomenological orientation at SMP Tahfidzul Qur’an Hidayatul Mubtadiien in East Lampung, SMPIT Al-Qurro Litahfidhil Quran in Bandar Lampung, and SMP Tahfidz Qur’an Nurul Mutaqin in North Lampung. Data were collected through non-participant observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed through reduction, display, conclusion drawing/verification, and source triangulation. Findings show that formulation involved vision-mission development, internal-external analysis, time-phased planning, and Tahfidz strategy; implementation used participatory policy, staff motivation, human-resource allocation, and work culture; evaluation used monitoring, performance standards, and corrective action. The study concludes that graduate quality improves when Tahfidz is integrated with the academic curriculum, pesantren support, teacher development, parent communication, and evaluation. Schools should balance memorization targets with understanding Qur’anic meaning, broaden academic and extracurricular development, strengthen facilities and professionalism, and apply graduate-outcome indicators.