Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum

The Merdeka Curriculum, implemented over the past three years, has highlighted a dynamic shift, impacting both teachers and students. This study employs a phenomenological qualitative approach, based on Miles and Huberman’s framework, to evaluate the impact of the Merdeka Curriculum on teacher compe...

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Main Authors: Erna Kusumawati, Khoerul Umam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2501458
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author Erna Kusumawati
Khoerul Umam
author_facet Erna Kusumawati
Khoerul Umam
author_sort Erna Kusumawati
collection DOAJ
description The Merdeka Curriculum, implemented over the past three years, has highlighted a dynamic shift, impacting both teachers and students. This study employs a phenomenological qualitative approach, based on Miles and Huberman’s framework, to evaluate the impact of the Merdeka Curriculum on teacher competence in Indonesia. The research involved teachers and educational stakeholders, particularly in public schools. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies across 56 public high schools affiliated with the first wave of driving schools. The study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and NVivo software to explore how participants interpret their personal and social realities. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum’s impact on teacher competence, especially in fostering 21st-century professionalism in teaching. This research offers valuable insights for evaluating educational policies, with the primary output being a policy brief for the Indonesian government.
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series Cogent Education
spelling doaj-art-8d42e81f59d34d61aae9a4da7a2a07322025-08-20T03:49:32ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2501458Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka CurriculumErna Kusumawati0Khoerul Umam1Department of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Subang, West Java, IndonesiaMathematics Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA, Jakarta, IndonesiaThe Merdeka Curriculum, implemented over the past three years, has highlighted a dynamic shift, impacting both teachers and students. This study employs a phenomenological qualitative approach, based on Miles and Huberman’s framework, to evaluate the impact of the Merdeka Curriculum on teacher competence in Indonesia. The research involved teachers and educational stakeholders, particularly in public schools. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies across 56 public high schools affiliated with the first wave of driving schools. The study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and NVivo software to explore how participants interpret their personal and social realities. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum’s impact on teacher competence, especially in fostering 21st-century professionalism in teaching. This research offers valuable insights for evaluating educational policies, with the primary output being a policy brief for the Indonesian government.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.250145821st-century skillsEducational Policy EvaluationMerdeka curriculumPhenomenological ApproachTeacher CompetenceSustainability Education, Training & Leadership
spellingShingle Erna Kusumawati
Khoerul Umam
Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
Cogent Education
21st-century skills
Educational Policy Evaluation
Merdeka curriculum
Phenomenological Approach
Teacher Competence
Sustainability Education, Training & Leadership
title Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
title_full Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
title_fullStr Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
title_full_unstemmed Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
title_short Strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum
title_sort strengthening teacher competence for leading and sustaining the implementation of the merdeka curriculum
topic 21st-century skills
Educational Policy Evaluation
Merdeka curriculum
Phenomenological Approach
Teacher Competence
Sustainability Education, Training & Leadership
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2501458
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