As time progresses, we cannot avoid the (increasing presence of) science, technology, and culture in the digital era. The main pillar of the digital era is critical thinking, and the Merdeka Curriculum can respond to itJakarta (ANTARA) - The Merdeka (Independent) Curriculum can contribute to meeting the needs of human resources in future when scientific and technological developments become more inevitable, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry stated.
"As time progresses, we cannot avoid the (increasing presence of) science, technology, and culture in the digital era. The main pillar of the digital era is critical thinking, and the Merdeka Curriculum can respond to it," the ministry's Curriculum and Learning Center Acting Head, Zulfikri Anas, told ANTARA here on Friday.
According to Anas, in this digitalization era, children should be equipped with critical reasoning skills to enable them to differentiate between true and hoax information.
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Children must also develop their potential and have the ability to adapt in dynamic situations. Anas also highlighted the importance of children being able to strengthen their noble character as Indonesians.
"And this Merdeka Curriculum also focuses on character (development). In the earlier (curricula), character development was only part of extracurricular activities. In the Merdeka Curriculum, a special time was provided for intracurricular activities," he elucidated.
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He explained that in the Merdeka Curriculum, 20-30 percent of the learning time per subject is allocated for character development learning based on Pancasila.
Sharing a similar view, Satriwan Salim, an educational observer and coordinator of the Education and Teachers Association (P2G), also stated that implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum will help to respond to the challenges of future human resources, especially since every creation of a new curriculum adapts to the current developments of science and technology.
"All curricula are like that. In the past, the 2013 Curriculum projected Indonesia to build the golden generation to respond to future challenges in 2045, (and) the 2006 Curriculum was also the same, the Merdeka Curriculum too," he stated.
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Translator: Suci N, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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