Education Minister Nadiem Makarim Launches Merdeka Belajar Curriculum

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim in a virtual press conference on Friday officially launched the Merdeka Belajar (independent learning) curriculum, which is a follow-up to the development and implementation of the emergency curriculum launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The program is also a follow-up to the government’s attempt to improve the 2013 curriculum. However, Makarim said he will not remodel it entirely. 

“We are following the philosophy of independence, independence in learning, and we will offer three options to schools and their choice will depend on their preparations,” said the minister on February 11. 

Schools, according to him, are given the freedom to decide which curriculum to use for the 2022/2023 school year. The first option is the 2013 curriculum that can be implemented entirely if schools are not ready to make changes to its curriculum.

The second option is to give schools authority to implement the emergency curriculum, which is a simplified version of the 2013 curriculum. The third option is to allow schools to entirely adopt the Merdeka Curriculum.  

This latest curriculum means the structure itself will be much more flexible with yearly-based school hour targets. It will focus on essential learning materials that allow studying to be controlled in phases, as opposed to a yearly basis.

Nadiem Makarim also said this will give teachers flexibility to utilize various school equipment that fits students’ characteristics. Students in high school will no longer be subjected to a specialization program, thus allowing them to pick subjects that are compatible with their interest, talents, and aspirations. 

Read: Indonesia in Learning Crisis: Education Minister 

ARRIJAL RACHMAN