Since the 2021-2022 school year, the Kurikulum Merdeka has been applied in as many as 2,500 initiator schools and vocational schools as part of the learning process with a new paradigmJakarta (ANTARA) - Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim announced that schools can start implementing the Independent Curriculum (Kurikulum Merdeka) in stages in accordance with the readiness of each school.
"Since the 2021-2022 school year, the Kurikulum Merdeka has been applied in as many as 2,500 initiator schools and vocational schools as part of the learning process with a new paradigm," Makarim stated during the launch of the Merdeka Learning episode 15: Kurikulum Merdeka and the Merdeka Teaching Platform on Friday.
The curriculum will be applied from kindergarten to high school level. Starting from the 2022-2023 school year, education units can opt to implement a curriculum based on the readiness of each school.
"The government will prepare a questionnaire to help education units assess the stage of school readiness in using the curriculum," the minister noted.
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Schools have three options to implement the new curriculum: applying several parts and principles of the Kurikulum Merdeka without changing the curriculum of the education unit applied, implementing Kurikulum Merdeka using the teaching tools provided, and applying the Kurikulum Merdeka by developing its own various teaching tools.
Schools are free to determine the curriculum they will use, be it the 2013 Curriculum, the Emergency Curriculum, and the Kurikulum Merdeka, Makarim noted.
Kurikulum Merdeka offers various advantages, with its much simpler and more efficient method, as it focuses on essential materials and the development of student competencies in its phase.
Furthermore, the curriculum is more independent wherein there is no specialization program in high school. Students can choose subjects according to their interests, talents, and aspirations.
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Moreover, teachers teach according to the stage of achievement and development of students. Schools also have the authority to develop and manage the curriculum and learning according to the characteristics of the education unit and students.
In addition, the Kurikulum Merdeka is more relevant and interactive with the learning program by project activities to provide wider opportunities for students to actively explore actual issues.
Implementation of the curriculum is also supported by the provision of textbooks and supporting teaching materials, training and provision of learning resources for teachers, principals and local governments, and fixed teaching hours and teacher professional allowances.
This curriculum is supported by the Merdeka Mengajar platform that helps teachers get references, inspiration, and a broader understanding to implement Kurikulum Merdeka.
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Translator: Indriani, Resinta Sulistiyanda
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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