TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has said that more than 140,000 schools implemented the Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum) in the 2022–2023 academic year.

"In the period, more than 140,000 schools implemented the Independent Curriculum," Head of the ministry’s Educational Standard, Curriculum, and Assessment Agency (BSKAP) Anindito Aditomo said on Tuesday.

According to him, the Independent Curriculum program is part of efforts to encourage parties to jointly transform the education system and improve the character and competency of Indonesian students.

The curriculum offers flexibility to educational units to design learning activities that involve the participation of teachers and students. It also gives teachers the flexibility to jointly design quality learning activities that are tailored to the needs of students and the condition of educational units.

Aditomo asked educational units and teachers to study the Independent Curriculum first before implementing it, including by accessing the Merdeka Mengajar (Independent Teaching) platform and the training modules for the Independent Curriculum.

"The most important mindset in the implementation of the Independent Curriculum is using this opportunity to improve the quality of learning because that is the main thing," he said.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has opened registrations for educational units seeking to implement the Independent Curriculum in the 2023–2024 academic year. The registrations opened on February 6, 2023, and end on March 31.

One of the elementary schools that has implemented the Independent Curriculum is Kemala Bhayangkari 01 Elementary School, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

The school's principal, Baharudin, said that the Independent Curriculum gives space to students to focus on essential learning materials and competency development in accordance with their phase.

"Children enjoy the implementation of the Independent Curriculum because they can learn more deeply and meaningfully. The Independent Curriculum is designed so that children can learn more comfortably and happily," he said.

ANTARA

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