Logo

Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and Learning Transformation in High Schools

A Case Study

Keywords :
Merdeka Curriculum, Learning Independence, Contextual Learning, 21st Century Competencies, Authentic Project
Abstract

This study aims to review the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum which has an impact on the quality of learning at the Senior High School (SMA) level. With a qualitative approach and case study design, the research was conducted at SMA Negeri 11 Jambi City. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and analysis of learning documents. The results show that Merdeka Curriculum encourages student learning independence, the application of contextual learning, and strengthening 21st century competencies through authentic projects. However, the implementation of this curriculum still faces obstacles, such as limited digital devices, uneven teacher pedagogical readiness, and lack of coordination across subjects. This research recommends the need for continuous teacher training, strengthening technological infrastructure, and collaborative curriculum management to support the successful implementation of Merdeka Curriculum.

References

Ariyanti, Y. P., & Hazin, M. (2024). Evaluasi kebijakan kurikulum merdeka. Almufi Jurnal Sosial Dan Humaniora, 1(1), 23-29. http://almufi.com/index.php/ASH/article/view/276

Aulia, R. S., Nurlaeli, A., & Ma’sum, S. R. (2025). Strategi Perencanaan Kurikulum Efektif Untuk Peningkatan Mutu Pendidikan. As-Syirkah: Islamic Economic & Financial Journal, 4(2), 241-249. https://journal.ikadi.or.id/index.php/assyirkah/article/view/469

Azzahra, I. F., & Rahmadhani, R. (2025). Kurikulum Merdeka: Telaah Potensi dan Tantangan Implementatif dalam Mewujudkan Pendidikan Fleksibel di Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia: Teori, Penelitian, dan Inovasi, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.59818/jpi.v5i3.1530

Bell, S. (2010). Project-based learning for the 21st century: Skills for the future. The clearing house, 83(2), 39-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098650903505415

Berk, L. E. (2013). Child development (9th ed.). Pearson Education. Boston, MA, Amerika Serikat.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design International Student Edition Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications, Inc.

Fauth, F., & González-Martínez, J. (2021). On the concept of learning transfer for continuous and online training: A literature review. Education Sciences, 11(3), 133. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11030133

Hasballah, T. (2024). Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka: Tantangan, Kebijakan, Dan Dampak Terhadap Pendidikan. Jurnal Ilmiah Edukatif, 10(2), 312-322. https://doi.org/10.37567/jie.v10i2.3404

Hasmiza, H. (2025). Model kurikulum pendidikan Islam di era digital: Mengoptimalkan teknologi untuk pembelajaran yang inovatif. Research and Development Journal of Education, 11(1), 164-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.30998/rdje.v11i1.28068

Jannah, F., Irtifa’Fathuddin, T., & Zahra, P. F. A. (2022). Problematika penerapan kurikulum merdeka belajar 2022. Al Yazidiy Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Dan Pendidikan, 4(2), 55-65. https://doi.org/10.55606/ay.v4i2.36

Johnson, E. B. (2002). Contextual teaching and learning: What it is and why it’s here to stay. Corwin Press. Thousand Oaks, CA, Amerika Serikat.

Kause, D. H., Nubatonis, B. E., Faot, F., & Dos Santos, J. (2025). Evaluasi Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar: Tantangan dan Peluang dalam Implementasi di Sekolah Menengah Pertama. Arini: Jurnal Ilmiah dan Karya Inovasi Guru, 2(1), 50-64. https://doi.org/10.71153/arini.v2i1.313

Kemendikbudristek. (2022). Panduan implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka. Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, Pendidikan Dasar, dan Menengah.

Kemendikbudristek. (2023). Laporan Kinerja Kemdikbudristek Tahun 2022. Biro Perencanaan.

Mulyasa, E. (2023). Menjadi guru profesional: Strategi meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran di era Kurikulum Merdeka. Remaja Rosdakarya.

Mustakim, M., Sutarto, S., & Fadila, F. (2024). Problematika Penerapan Kurikulum Merdeka Pada Mata Pelajaran Aqidah Akhlak di MIS Guppi 11 Talang Rimbo. Institut Agama Islam Negeri Curup. https://e-theses.iaincurup.ac.id/7500/

Sa’diah, Z., Fathurrohman, I., & Siswanto, S. (2024). Implementasi Manajemen Kurikulum Merdeka di MAN Rejang Lebong. Institut Agama Islam Negeri Curup. https://e-theses.iaincurup.ac.id/6054/

Sanjaya, D. H. W. (2006). Strategi pembelajaran berorentasi standar proses pendidikan. Prenada Media.

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times. John Wiley & Sons.

Zulaiha, S., Meisin, M., & Meldina, T. (2023). Problematika guru dalam menerapkan kurikulum merdeka belajar. Terampil: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran Dasar, 9(2), 163-177. https://doi.org/10.24042/terampil.v9i2.13974

Cover Image
Downloads
Published
2025-12-30
Section
Research Article
License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Open Access, Copyright, and Licensing

KOLEKTIF: Jurnal Pendidikan, Pengajaran, dan Pembelajaran provides immediate open access to its published content based on the principle that making scholarly research freely available to the public supports a wider global exchange of knowledge.

Copyright of articles published in KOLEKTIF remains with the author(s). By submitting and publishing an article in this journal, the author(s) grant KOLEKTIF the right of first publication.

All articles published in KOLEKTIF are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Under this license, readers and users are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;

  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial purposes.

These permissions are granted provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the original source of publication, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.

If users remix, transform, or build upon the published material, they must distribute their contributions under the same license as the original work, namely the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), or another license compatible with its terms.

The author(s) retain copyright and may enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the published version of the work, provided that the initial publication in KOLEKTIF is clearly acknowledged.

KOLEKTIF does not charge readers or institutions for access to its published articles. All published content is made freely available online in accordance with the journal's open access policy.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts comply with applicable copyright, ethical, and legal requirements. Authors must obtain appropriate permission to reproduce copyrighted materials, including figures, tables, photographs, illustrations, musical examples, audiovisual materials, and other third-party content where required.

The views and opinions expressed in published articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, KOLEKTIF: Jurnal Pendidikan, Pengajaran, dan Pembelajaran, or CV ALFA EDU KARYA.

How to Cite

Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and Learning Transformation in High Schools: A Case Study. (2025). KOLEKTIF: Jurnal Pendidikan, Pengajaran, Dan Pembelajaran, 2(2), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.70078/wafwmk09

Similar Articles

1-10 of 24

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.