TEACHERS’ CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING IN THE ERA OF KURIKULUM MERDEKA

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide information about the challenges faced by teachers and the application of strategies that must be changed from the previous curriculum learning to the student-centered independent curriculum. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with literature study techniques and interviews conducted with several teachers at MI NU Kesesi School in facing the latest challenges and strategies applied in the independent curriculum. The results of the analysis that we have concluded from research at MI NU Kesesi School that the challenges that have been faced by teachers while using the independent curriculum include teachers not only having to have knowledge of qualified subjects but also having social skills, the next challenge is carrying out learning assessments because so far teachers only focus on end-of-learning assessments, then the most challenging challenge is when there are students who have difficulty focusing. Then there are differences in teaching from the previous curriculum, namely Curriculum 13, which is more structured with a competency approach while the independent curriculum provides more freedom and flexibility for students. The advanced strategies are readiness in infrastructure and technology, improving teacher skills such as integration of project-based learning technology and formative assessment, increasing in-depth understanding of the independent curriculum, creating learning strategies that are responsive to diversity in the classroom, and collaborating with parents because the role of parents can be the key to the success of students.