Evaluation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Educational Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review of Strategies, Challenges, and Student Learning Outcomes

Authors

  • Mujiburrahman Mujiburrahman Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Indonesia
  • I Gede Ratnaya Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia
  • I Gusti Lanang Agung Parwata Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia
  • I Dewa Ayu Made Budhyani Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33394/jp.v12i4.17078

Keywords:

Merdeka Curriculum, implementation strategies, educational challenges, learning outcomes.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum across various educational institutions in Indonesia through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) supported by bibliometric analysis. A total of 30 Scopus-indexed articles, were analyzed using the PRISMA protocol to identify implementation strategies, key challenges, and student learning outcomes following the curriculum adoption. The findings indicate that common implementation strategies include teacher professional development, school leadership enhancement, project-based learning, and the integration of local values into the curriculum. Nevertheless, several challenges remain, such as limited pedagogical competencies, inadequate digital infrastructure, and disparities in curriculum quality across regions. In terms of learning outcomes, the Merdeka Curriculum has shown potential in enhancing student engagement, critical thinking, and independent learning, particularly in institutions with strong institutional readiness. The study recommends policies to improve teacher capacity, reduce administrative burdens, ensure equitable access to technology, and promote cross-sector collaboration as critical measures to strengthen curriculum implementation. This review contributes valuable insights for policymakers and educational practitioners in designing evidence-based strategies to support the success of Indonesia’s national curriculum reform.

References

Andi Rachman, T., Latipah, E., Zaqiah, Q. Y., & Erihadiana, M. (2021). Curriculum Innovation to Improve Indonesian Education in PISA International Assessment in Disruptive Education Era. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3516875.3516899

Ariefah, A., & Nugraheni, M. (2023). Sentiment Analysis for Curriculum of Independent Learning Based on Naïve Bayes with Laplace Estimator. 2023 International Conference on Information Technology Research and Innovation, ICITRI 2023, 157–161. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICITRI59340.2023.10249320

Arifin, M., Nasution, I. S., Wahyuni, S., Saehu, U., Rahayu, E., & ... (2020). Modul Kurikulum dan Pembelajaran. books.google.com. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=4mI9EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA120&dq=kurikulum&ots=HOflALa0-6&sig=FIcBegqHu2BiC8kCUkge_VID7mY

Arsalan, M. H., Mubin, O., Al Mahmud, A., & Perveen, S. (2025). What factors influence research impact? An empirical study on the interplay of research, publications, researchers, institutions, and national conditions. Journal of Data and Information Science, 10(1), 188–227. https://doi.org/10.2478/jdis-2025-0001

Bjork, C. (2004). Decentralisation in education, institutional culture and teacher autonomy in Indonesia. International Review of Education, 50(3–4), 245–262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-004-2622-6

Bjork, C. (2006). Decentralisation in education, institutional culture and teacher autonomy in Indonesia. In Decentralisation and Privatisation in Education: The Role of the State (pp. 133–150). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3358-2_7

Carrión-Toro, M., Aguilar, J., Santórum, M., Pérez, M., Astudillo, B., Lopez, C.-P., Nieto, M., & Acosta-Vargas, P. (2022). iKeyCriteria: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Method to Infer Key Criteria since a Systematic Literature Review for the Computing Domain. Data, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/data7060070

Fan, Z., Yang, L., & Zhao, Z. (2024). Translating Information Research into Practice, Policy and Action: A Review of 2023 ASIS&T Annual Meeting. Documentation, Information and Knowledge, 41(4), 146–160. https://doi.org/10.13366/j.dik.2024.04.146

Feng, Q., Li, W., Crispin, J., Longobardi, S., D’Hooghe, T., Mol, B. W., & Li, W. (2025). Trial characteristics, geographic distribution, and selected methodological issues of 1425 infertility trials published from 2012 to 2023: a systematic review. Human Reproduction Open, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoaf004

García-Peñalvo, F. J. (2022). Developing robust state-of-the-art reports: Systematic Literature Reviews; [Desarrollo de estados de la cuestión robustos: Revisiones Sistemáticas de Literatura]. Education in the Knowledge Society, 23, E28600. https://doi.org/10.14201/eks.28600

Ghamrawi, N., Shal, T., Ghamrawi, N. A. R., Abu-Tineh, A., Alshaboul, Y., & Alazaizeh, M. A. (2025). A Step-by-Step Approach to Systematic Reviews in Educational Research. European Journal of Educational Research, 14(2), 549–566. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.14.2.549

Halim, A., Ansari, A., & Halim, N. M. (2024). A study on how the Merdeka curriculum promotes multilingualism in Indonesian ELT classrooms. XLinguae, 17(2), 107–121. https://doi.org/10.18355/XL.2024.17.02.07

Halomoan, H., Hakiki, M., Ramadhan, M. A., Hidayah, Y., Fakhri, J., Aljamaliah, S. N. M., & Hamid, M. A. (2024). Integrating Principal Leadership and Teacher Roles with AI-Based ‘Merdeka’ Curriculum Innovation: The Quantitative Research. TEM Journal, 13(4), 3397–3404. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM134-73

Hidayat, A. K., Setyawati, H., Hidayatullah, F., & Hartono, M. (2024). Development and Validation of a Physical Activity-Based Freedom of Movement in Kindergarten. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 24(5), 720–727. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.5.06

Jasiah, Mazrur, Hartati, Z., Rahman, A., Kibtiyah, M., Liadi, F., & Fahmi. (2024). Islamic Teachers’ Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Senior High Schools: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(4), 394 – 408. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.4.21

Khaddage-Soboh, N., & Tawil, S. (2023). Navigating the crisis: A review of COVID-19 research and the importance of academic publications - The case of a private university in Lebanon. Heliyon, 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22917

Limiansi, K., & Setiawan, C. (2023). Biology Teachers’ Perspective on Change of Curriculum Policy: A Case for Implementation of “Independent” Curriculum. Qualitative Report, 28(9), 2620–2638. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2023.6204

Liu, Y., & Chen, J. (2025). A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis of Educational Neuroscience Research in Early Childhood Education, 1970–2024. Early Education and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2025.2472454

Munaf, Y., Ayu, R. P., Akmal, A., Efi, A., & Novaliendry, D. (2025). Transforming Music Education: Evaluating the Impact of the Merdeka Curriculum in Arts Education. Educational Process: International Journal, 14. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.62

Prasetyo, Z. K., Syawaludin, A., & Desstya, A. (2024). Integration indigenous science in merdeka curriculum to strengthen scientific literacy and environmental care in elementary schools: Need analysis. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 8(5), 1062–1070. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i5.1806

Puad, L. M. A. Z., & Ashton, K. (2023). A critical analysis of Indonesia’s 2013 national curriculum: Tensions between global and local concerns. Curriculum Journal, 34(3), 521–535. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.194

Purnomo, E., & Triwiyono, E. (2019). The 2013 Curriculum-Based Learning Evaluation at Vocational High Schools in Yogyakarta Special Region. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1273(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1273/1/012028

Rohimajaya, N. A., Hartono, R., Yuliasri, I., & Fitriati, S. W. (2025). Crafting an English Ebook for the Merdeka Curriculum: Insights from Indonesian High School Teachers. Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 14(1), 90–105. https://doi.org/10.5430/jct.v14n1p90

Rosanawati, I. M. R., Warto, W., Djono, D., & Purwanta, H. (2025). Pedagogical Model Innovation Based on Ki Hajar Dewantara’s Among System for History Learning in the Merdeka Curriculum. Educational Process: International Journal, 14. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.39

Samsudi, Supraptono, E., Utanto, Y., Rohman, S., & Djafar, T. (2024). UNRAVELING THE MERDEKA CURRICULUM: EXPLORING DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION’S IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(2), 517–538. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i2.1131

Santoso, G. (2020). The structure development model of pancasila education (Pe) and civic education (ce) at 21 century 4.0 era in indonesian. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 59, 1046–1054. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85105605218&partnerID=40&md5=c23bb19ea3e0154ebc4afaf0450a2257

Susanto, E., Susanta, A., & Ali, S. R. B. (2024). Developing STEAM-Teaching Module in Supporting Students’ Literacy Ability in Elementary School. Mathematics Education Journal, 18(3), 349–366. https://doi.org/10.22342/jpm.v18i3.pp349-366

Suyetno, A., Mawangi, P. A. N., & Romadin, A. (2024). The role of industry to unlock the potential of the Merdeka curriculum for vocational school. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2335820

Syofyan, H., Rosyid, A., Fadli, M. R., & Yusuff, A. A. (2024). Teacher Readiness Factors that Influence the Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Elementary Schools. Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 13(5), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.5430/jct.v13n5p168

Umar, Ibnusaputra, M., Kadir, A., Firdaus, A. Y., Hendra, Retnoningsih, & Jayanti, M. I. (2025). Impact of Implementation the Merdeka Curriculum on the Effectiveness of Children’s Learning Styles: A Review Based on Gender and Subject. Educational Process: International Journal, 14. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.88

Umar, Ockta, Y., & Mardesia, P. (2023). A Correlational Study: Pedagogical and professional competence of physical education teachers in relation to the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(12), 3325–3331. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.12380

Widodo, H. P. (2016). Language Policy in Practice: Reframing the English Language Curriculum in the Indonesian Secondary Education Sector. In Language Policy(Netherlands) (Vol. 11, pp. 127–151). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22464-0_6

Wijayanti, D. M., Pramono, S. E., & Handoyo, E. (2024). Principal decision-making in implementing Merdeka Curriculum in elementary schools: a review. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 13(6), 4365–4373. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i6.28940

Yafie, E., Setyaningsih, D., Lestariningrum, A., Saodi, S., Herlina, H., & Wiranata, I. G. L. A. (2024). Exploring Merdeka Curriculum Implementation in Diverse Preschools Settings: A Comparative Analysis of Principal Perceptions in Public and Private Schools with Varied Accreditation Levels. Participatory Educational Research, 11(5), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.24.63.11.5

Published

2025-10-11

How to Cite

Mujiburrahman, M., Ratnaya, I. G., Parwata, I. G. L. A., & Budhyani, I. D. A. M. (2025). Evaluation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Educational Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review of Strategies, Challenges, and Student Learning Outcomes . Jurnal Paedagogy, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.33394/jp.v12i4.17078

Citation Check