Quality education is a prerequisite for the development of an advanced nation. The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry constantly seeks to transform education through the breakthrough Merdeka Belajar. The transformation is being achieved through four improvement efforts.

The first is improvements in infrastructure and technology. The second is improvements in policy, procedure and funding and the provision of more autonomy for educational units. The third is improvements in leadership, society and culture. And the fourth is improvements in the curriculum, pedagogy and assessments.

Merdeka Belajar started with episode one, which set four basic policies to change the paradigm and old ways of teaching and learning towards advancement. The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry scrapped the standardized national examination (USBN), replacing the National Examination (UN) with the National Assessment, simplifying the Learning Implementation Plan (RPP) and establishing a more flexible state school enrolment selection (PPDB) policy.

Tri Worosetyaningsih, the principal of SMP Negeri 2 Pakem state junior high school in Slemen Regency, Yogyakarta, said teachers at the school had noted that the policy did not place burden on them when it came to RPP administration issues. The policy drove them to be more creative because they could come up with ideas and innovations for classroom learning. “Students can learn in a more fun way. They can develop their creativity from what they obtain,” she said.

Episode 2 deals with the Independent Campus program. The program has been launched. The policy provides both universities and students flexibility in moving forward to support the enhancement of lecture quality. Kalimantan Institute of Technology (ITK) student Andhika Naufal Zein has completed the university’s certified apprenticeship, part of the campus’ Merdeka Belajar program and says the policy is highly enjoyable. “The apprenticeship allowed me gain new knowledge that I did not learn on campus. This will add to our hard and soft skills,” Zein said.

Episode 3 of Merdeka Belajar regards a change in the use of school operational aid (BOS) in the 2020 budget. Nurdin Achmad, the principal of SMP Negeri 1 Banda state junior high school in Central Maluku Regency, Maluku, said that with the new mechanism, the BOS could be distributed to his school on time and could reach the right target. “The provision of an honorarium [taken from the BOS] to teachers is also very helpful. Now, a teacher can earn a minimum of Rp 1.2 million and a maximum Rp 1.5 million,” Nurdin said.

Shared responsibility

Support from various parties is required for the advancement of education in Indonesia. That’s because education is a shared responsibility. That’s why, episode 4, the Activator Organization Program, was developed. Deputy head of Majelis Luhur Perguruan Tamansiswa, Saur Panjaitan XIII, said that through gotong royong (mutual cooperation) involving all parties to create transformations, it was expected that the quality of education could be enhanced massively and sustainably.

Episode 5 of the Merdeka Belajar has to do with the Activator Teacher Program. The program helps teachers become activators and motors of the country’s educational transformation who can advocate for the holistic growth of students. Wanti Sila Sakti, a teacher at SDN 16 Mengkiang state elementary school in Sanggau Regency, East Kalimantan, and a participating teacher activator candidate, said the program asked teachers to consider issues directly from the ground.

“This has made us aware of how teachers should be engaged in learning there. So the sustainable program does not stop only at the classroom,” Wanti said.

Episode 6 of Merdeka Belajar discusses how the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry is undertaking the governmental transformation with regard to higher education. Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta (UNS) rector Jamal Wiwoho said he hoped that with the policy, universities would be expected to produce graduates equipped with knowledge and skills that could be readily used by business and industry. “They are also expected to hold a creative and entrepreneurial spirit with social sensitivity and a global perspective,” Jamal added.

Episode 7 of Merdeka Belajar, involves the Activator School Program, under which activators are expected to accelerate schools under all circumstances to move forward one or two phases faster. The program is implemented in stages and in an integrated manner, with the ecosystem expected to drive all schools in Indonesia to become school activators. 

Episode 8 of Merdeka Belajar sets a policy regarding SMK Pusat Keunggulan (Center of Excellence) vocational high schools. Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya (PENS) director Zainal Arief commened the policy, saying the program was useful for strengthening and scaling up vocational education, such as expanding industry and business networks as partners of learning.

Merdeka Belajar episode 9 sets a policy on the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) Kuliah Merdeka that aims to ensure that students from less fortunate families can further their studies at higher educational institutions. Tri Hidayat Surya Maulidi, a student of SMA Negeri 1 Selong state senior high school in East Lombok and a recipient of KIP Kuliah, hailed the policy, saying it had become increasingly affirmative. “The increase in funding aid from KIP Kuliah Merdeka has made me bolder when it comes to choosing a field of study in another region,” said the candidate for study at the Bogor Agriculture Institute.

Episode 10 of Merdeka Belajar sets a policy for the extension of the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship program. LPDP scholarship recipient and alumnus Firman Parlindungan said that thanks to the scholarship, he had managed to earn a doctorate at 29 years old from a university in the United States. Firman, who is now a lecturer, is determined help develop his native West Aceh.

The series of Merdeka Belajar policies has been launched primarily to enhance the quality of education and create excellent human capital for Advanced Indonesia.

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