The implementation of national education policy represents one of the Indonesian government's strategic agendas in realizing the aspirations of the 1945 Constitution, particularly in educating the nation's life. This study aims to analyze the process of implementing national education policy using George C. Edwards III's implementation model, identify enabling and inhibiting factors, and examine implementation challenges in the Society 5.0 era and digital transformation. The research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach in West Java and East Kalimantan provinces as pilot regions. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, document analysis, and field observations during the 2022–2024 period. The findings reveal that the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) policy faces several structural challenges, including digital infrastructure gaps between regions, uneven human resource capacity, and suboptimal inter-institutional coordination. Key enabling factors include local government commitment, the active role of school principals as change agents, and the support of professional learning communities. This study recommends strengthening implementer capacity at the grassroots level, accelerating equitable digital infrastructure development, and establishing data-driven monitoring and evaluation systems. These findings contribute to developing a policy implementation framework responsive to Society 5.0 era challenges.
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