Building Manuk Rombeng Generations: Local Wisdom as the Foundation for Manggarai Education in the Digital Era

This study examines the relevance of Manggarai local wisdom in shaping educational goals amid digital-era challenges. It employs a qualitative descriptive–analytical approach with a contextual and interpretive orientation, drawing on in-depth interviews with traditional elders, educators, and community leaders, focus group discussions with youth, and analysis of customary narratives and educational policy documents. The findings show that Manggarai education is grounded in indigenous concepts such as ngo podo ngasang bodok (critical enlightenment), dangka nuk (multidirectional thinking), and kudut manga uma duat (future-oriented self-reliance). In this study, Manuk Rombeng refers to an educational philosophy in which success is defined not only by cognitive achievement but by integrated cognitive, affective, and psychomotor development as the basis of holistic character formation. Analysis of the digital generation reveals two key findings: high digital exposure produces superficial learning, and digital skills are weakly connected to future livelihoods. Rather than conflicting with digital culture, Manuk Rombeng converges with it by addressing these gaps through intellectual maturity and value internalization. The study recommends embedding reflective digital tasks, locally grounded project-based learning, and digital storytelling into curricula to operationalize Manuk Rombeng in digital education.