Archipel: Journal of Indonesian Interdisciplinary Studies
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): Archipel - October

Challenges in Implementing the Merdeka Curriculum: A Review of Teacher Readiness and Technological Support

Made Ayu Anggreni (Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya)
Azhariah Rachman (Univeristas Haluoleo)
Ebeneser Wacner Simamora (Universitas Papua)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Oct 2026

Abstract

The Merdeka Curriculum is Indonesia's most significant curricular reform in a decade, granting schools and teachers wider autonomy over learning design, assessment, and the use of digital resources. Its success, however, depends on whether teachers are prepared to exercise that autonomy and whether technological support is available to sustain it. This article reviews 24 studies published between 2023 and 2026 to examine how teacher readiness and technological support have been addressed in research on the curriculum's implementation. A qualitative systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 reporting principles. Records were drawn from two bibliographic exports and supplementary searches, screened against explicit criteria, and analysed through thematic synthesis. Five themes emerged: conceptual understanding of curriculum components, professional development and training, pedagogical and assessment adaptation, institutional and management support, and technological competence and infrastructure. The synthesis shows that readiness is uneven across regions, school types, and subjects, and that the Merdeka Mengajar Platform has become a central support tool whose benefits depend on teachers' digital competence, time, and school-level facilitation. The article proposes a Readiness-Technology Alignment perspective, arguing that readiness and technological support should be planned together rather than treated as separate policy tracks. Implications for training, leadership, and policy are discussed.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

archipel

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Environmental Science Social Sciences

Description

Archipel: Journal of Indonesian Interdisciplinary Studies is an open-access scientific journal dedicated to advancing research and knowledge through interdisciplinary studies, with a focus on the diverse social, cultural, economic, and environmental dynamics of Indonesia and their global ...