Jurnal Pembangunan Pendidikan: Fondasi dan Aplikasi
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): December

Curriculum reform and language pedagogy: Rethinking policy and practice in Indonesia

Pambudi, Haryo Aji (Unknown)
Fajrin, Hilma Oktaviana (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Mar 2026

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how Indonesia’s Merdeka Curriculum reform influences English language pedagogy, focusing on the alignment between policy expectations and classroom practices. Grounded in the framework of curriculum and instructional development, the research employs a qualitative descriptive design involving document analysis, teacher interviews, and classroom observations in selected junior and senior high schools. Data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns in pedagogical adaptation and implementation challenges. Validation of the instruments and data interpretation were ensured through expert judgment, triangulation, and member checking to maintain credibility and dependability. The findings reveal that while the Merdeka Curriculum encourages a significant pedagogical shift toward learner-centered, contextual, and genre-based English teaching, teachers still struggle with interpreting curriculum guidelines, designing authentic learning activities, and assessing students’ communicative competence. The analysis indicates that limited professional training and institutional support have constrained the effectiveness of the reform at the classroom level. This study concludes that successful curriculum transformation requires stronger teacher capacity-building programs, clearer instructional frameworks, and sustained policy communication between stakeholders. The research contributes to the broader discourse on curriculum reform and educational development by highlighting the interaction between national education policy and pedagogical practice in the context of a developing country.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jppfa

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

Jurnal Pembangunan Pendidikan: Fondasi & Aplikasi (JPPFA) is interested in comparative studies that lead to new insights and challenge of orthodox theories; that have potential for policy impact; and that apply to broad range of settings, including industrial democracies as well as low and middle ...