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Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine the efforts of the independent curriculum in improving the quality of 21st century education, especially at the basic education level. Through the literature study method, this research analyzes the basic principles, implementation, and advantages of the independent curriculum in improving the abilities needed in the 21st century, strengthening character, and evaluating learning. The results of the study show that the independent curriculum is designed with flexibility to meet local and global needs, emphasizes project-based learning, and integrates the values of the Pancasila student profile. Implementation of this curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication competencies, while strengthening character through learning that is relevant to real life. Simplification of teaching materials and process-based evaluation allows students to learn more deeply, while teachers are given freedom in designing appropriate learning strategies. The advantages of the independent curriculum include an orientation towards holistic, adaptive and sustainable learning, so that it has the potential to improve the quality of basic education in Indonesia. It is hoped that this research will become a reference in understanding and optimizing the implementation of the independent curriculum, as well as making a significant contribution in realizing national education that is relevant to the challenges of the 21st century.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Syaiful Anwar, Dwi Ratnasari, Diah Puji Lestari

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References
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- Septikasari, R., & Nugraha Frasandy, R. (2018). Keterampilan 4C Abad 21 dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Dasar. Jurnal Tarbyah Al-Awlad, VIII(2), 107–117.
- Sholihah, A., Pertiwi, D. S. K., & Setyawan, A. (2022). Kurikulum Merdeka Sebagai Solusi Pendidikan di Masa Pandemi. Jurnal Elementer: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 1(1), 28–33.
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- Tanggur, F. S. (2023). Tantangan Implimentasi Kurikulum Merdeka Bagi Guru Sekolah Dasar di WIlayah Pedesaan Pulau Sumba. HINEF : Jurnal Rumpun Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(2), 23–29. https://doi.org/10.37792/hinef.v2i2.993
- Ulandari, S., & Rapita, D. D. (2023). Implementasi Proyek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila sebagai Upaya Menguatkan Karakter Peserta Didik. Jurnal Moral Kemasyarakatan, 8(2), 116–132. https://doi.org/10.21067/jmk.v8i2.8309
- Wiliam, D. (2011). What is assessment for learning? Studies in Educational Evaluation, 37(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2011.03.001
- Yanto, P. N. F., & Prasetya, A. F. (2021). Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Siswa Menggunakan Metode Problem Based Learning (PBL). Prosiding Seminar Nasional Hasil Pelaksanaan Program Pengenalan Lapangan Persekolahan, 2(1), 71–75.
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References
Aini, Q., M, N., & Basith, A. (2024). Teknik dan Bentuk Evaluasi Pembelajaran Kurikulum Merdeka. Jurnal Review Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran (JRPP), 7(1), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.31004/jrpp.v7i1.23989
Annisa Pratiwi, S., Marlina, R., & Kurniawan, F. (2023). Analisis Penerapan Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Jasmani pada Siswa SMK Texar Karawang. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 9(1), 525–535.
Ardiyansyah, Sagita Mawaddah, F., & Juanda. (2023). Asesmen dalam Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar. Jurnal Literasi dan Pembelajaran Indonesia, 3(1), 8–13.
Budiono, A. N., & Hatip, M. (2023). Asesmen Pembelajaran Pada Kurikulum Merdeka. Jurnal Axioma : Jurnal Matematika Dan Pembelajaran, 8(1), 109–123. https://doi.org/10.56013/axi.v8i1.2044
Creswell, J. W. (2017). Research Design: Pendekatan Kualitatif, Kuantitatif dan Mixed. Pustaka Pelajar.
Fadilah, R., Atika Parinduri, S., Ulfa Syaimi, K., & Suharyanto, A. (2020). Islamic Guidance and Counseling to Overcome the Study Difficulty of Junior High School Students in SMP IT Nurul Azizi Medan. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(1).
Fatmawati, F., & Yusrizal, Y. (2021). Analysis of the Utilization of Nature as a Learning Media in the Covid-19 Pandemic Era. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 4(4), 8150–8154. https://doi.org/10.33258/birci.v4i4.2733
Irgi Abdillah Az-zarkasyi, M., & Hindun, H. (2024). Penerapan Metode Problem Based Learning (PBL) dalam Kurikulum Merdeka. GURUKU: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Sosial Humaniora, 2(1), 69–80.
Jannati, P., Ramadhan, F. A., & Rohimawan, M. A. (2023). Peran Guru Penggerak Dalam Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Sekolah Dasar. Al-Madrasah: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 7(1), 330–345. https://doi.org/10.35931/am.v7i1.1714
Kemendikbudristek. (2024). Kajian Akademik Kurikulum Merdeka. Kementrian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset dan Teknologi. Diambil dari https://kurikulum.kemdikbud.go.id/rujukan/kajian-naskah-akademik
Khairul Fikri, L., Rahmad, M., & Wibisana, W. (2014). Perkembangan Pendidikan Agama Islam di Sekolah Dasar Tahun 1945-1966. TARBAWY, 1(1), 44–52.
Lickona, T. (2012). Mendidik untuk membentuk karakter: Bagaimana Sekolah dapat memberikan pendidikan tentang sikap hormat dan tanggung jawab. Bumi Askara.
Mulia, J. R., Nasution, B., Asmendri, A., & Sari, M. (2023). Peranan Kurikulum Dalam Mencapai Tujuan Pendidikan. El-Idare: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.19109/elidare.v9i2.19208
Mulyasa, E. (2023). Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka. Bumi Aksara.
Nopiani, S., Purnamasari, I., Nuvitalia, D., & Rahmawati, A. (2023). Kompetensi 4C Dalam Implimentasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Kelas IV Sekolah Dasar. Didaktik : Jurnal Ilmiah PGSD STKIP Subang, 9(2), 5202–5210. https://doi.org/10.36989/didaktik.v9i2.1136
Nurhasanah, A., Pribadi, R. A., & Nur, M. D. (2021). Analisis Kurikulum 2013. Didaktik : Jurnal Ilmiah PGSD STKIP Subang, 7(02), 484–493. https://doi.org/10.36989/didaktik.v7i02.239
Putri, Y. S., & Arsanti, M. (2022). Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar Sebagai Pemulihan Pembelajaran. Seminar Nasional Pendidikan Sultan Agung IV, 4(1). Diambil dari https://jurnal.unissula.ac.id/index.php/sendiksa/article/view/27269
Saifudin, A., & Yaziidul Khoiiri, M. (2023). Reorientasi Pengembangan Kurikulum dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan. Jounal of Islamic Education Management, 3(4), 24–34.
Sari Rezeki, U., Novianti Sihombing, L., B. Togatorop, J., & Sheba Cornelia, T. (2022). Pengembangan Kurikulum Pembelajaran. CV Widina Media Utama.
Septikasari, R., & Nugraha Frasandy, R. (2018). Keterampilan 4C Abad 21 dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Dasar. Jurnal Tarbyah Al-Awlad, VIII(2), 107–117.
Sholihah, A., Pertiwi, D. S. K., & Setyawan, A. (2022). Kurikulum Merdeka Sebagai Solusi Pendidikan di Masa Pandemi. Jurnal Elementer: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 1(1), 28–33.
Sya’bani, M. A. Y. (2018). Pengembangan kurikulum pendidikan agama Islam dalam presepektif pendidikan nilai. TAMADDUN, 19(2), 101. https://doi.org/10.30587/tamaddun.v0i0.699
Tanggur, F. S. (2023). Tantangan Implimentasi Kurikulum Merdeka Bagi Guru Sekolah Dasar di WIlayah Pedesaan Pulau Sumba. HINEF : Jurnal Rumpun Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(2), 23–29. https://doi.org/10.37792/hinef.v2i2.993
Ulandari, S., & Rapita, D. D. (2023). Implementasi Proyek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila sebagai Upaya Menguatkan Karakter Peserta Didik. Jurnal Moral Kemasyarakatan, 8(2), 116–132. https://doi.org/10.21067/jmk.v8i2.8309
Wiliam, D. (2011). What is assessment for learning? Studies in Educational Evaluation, 37(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2011.03.001
Yanto, P. N. F., & Prasetya, A. F. (2021). Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Siswa Menggunakan Metode Problem Based Learning (PBL). Prosiding Seminar Nasional Hasil Pelaksanaan Program Pengenalan Lapangan Persekolahan, 2(1), 71–75.
Zed, M. (2008). Metode Penelitian Kepustakaan. Yayasan Obor Indonesia.