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This article discusses the evolution of the education curriculum in Indonesia from 1947 to the present day, undergoing changes eleven times to align with the goals outlined in Law Number 20 of 2003. The shift from the 2013 curriculum to the independent curriculum was prompted by challenges such as low literacy and numeracy skills of students, highlighted by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) study in 2018. The Covid-19 pandemic further emphasized the need for curriculum changes to recover from learning loss. The independent curriculum provides schools, especially students, the freedom to choose based on their needs, focusing on freedom and creative thinking. The study employs a qualitative research approach with a case study design, conducted from October 2023 to December 2023. The object is the implementation of the independent curriculum at SMK Negeri 2 Tebing Tinggi, and the subjects include two lead teachers and one curriculum teacher. Data collection involves interviews, direct observation, and documentation of relevant materials. The independent curriculum at SMK Negeri 2 Tebing Tinggi focuses on fostering independent and self-reliant students. The implementation involves various stages, including participation in training activities, workshops, and self-training through the Merdeka Mengajar Platform. Challenges include changing regulations, low teacher experience, and limited facilities. Challenges in the implementation include changing regulations, low teacher experience, limited references, digital access limitations, and inadequate facilities. Despite challenges, SMK Negeri 2 Tebing Tinggi has been successful in implementing the independent curriculum, focusing on intracurricular, curricular, and extracurricular learning principles.
Nasution et al. (2024) studied this question.