How the Merdeka Curriculum Implementation and Teacher Motivation Shape High School Performance Outcomes in West Aceh, Indonesia

Authors

  • Shara Syukri Master of Educational Administration Study Program, The Graduate School, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
  • Ismail Ismail Master of Educational Administration Study Program, The Graduate School, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
  • Hizir Sofyan Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60084/jeml.v3i1.252

Keywords:

Merdeka curriculum, Teacher motivation, Teacher performance, Educational outcomes, Curriculum implementation

Abstract

This study examines the effects of the Merdeka Curriculum implementation and teacher motivation on high school teacher performance in Aceh Barat Regency, Indonesia. The Merdeka Curriculum, a recent educational reform emphasizing flexibility and student-centered learning, aims to enhance teaching quality and student engagement. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 74 high school teachers through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and regression, were conducted to assess the impact of curriculum implementation and motivation on teacher performance. Findings reveal that the Merdeka Curriculum significantly improves teacher performance by promoting adaptive teaching practices. Teacher motivation, encompassing intrinsic and extrinsic factors, also positively influences performance, with high motivation levels associated with more extraordinary dedication and effectiveness. The combined analysis indicates that 80.2% of the variation in teacher performance is explained by these factors, suggesting that both curriculum flexibility and motivational support are essential in enhancing educational outcomes. These results offer practical insights for policymakers and educational stakeholders aiming to support teacher engagement and curriculum adaptability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. Zhang, Y., Kumar, S., Huang, X., and Yuan, Y. (2023). Human Capital Quality and the Regional Economic Growth: Evidence from China, Journal of Asian Economics, Vol. 86, 101593. doi:10.1016/j.asieco.2023.101593.
  2. Al Rashidi, F., Diab-Bahman, R., and Al-Enzi, A. (2021). The Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on Human Capital Investments, International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Vol. 25, 1–14.
  3. Helda, H., and Syahrani, S. (2022). National Standards of Education in Contents Standards and Education Process Standards in Indonesia, Indonesian Journal of Education, Vol. 2, No. 3, 257–269.
  4. Sukmayadi, V., and Yahya, A. (2020). Indonesian Education Landscape and the 21st Century Challenges, Journal of Social Studies Education Research, Vol. 11, No. 4, 219–234.
  5. Lestari, N. A. P. (2023). Analysis of 2013 Curriculum Problems so It Is Changed into a Merdeka Curriculum, Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar Nusantara, Vol. 8, No. 2, 263–274.
  6. Ningsih, P. E. A., and Sari, M. N. (2024). The Role Of Technology In Implementing Kurikulum Merdeka: A Review Of Current Practices, Edu Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, 171–183.
  7. Zidan, M. R., and Qamariah, Z. (2023). A Literature Study on the Implementation of Merdeka Curriculum, Jurnal Riset Rumpun Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 2, No. 2, 153–167.
  8. Fauzan, F., Ansori, R. A. M., Dannur, M., Pratama, A., and Hairit, A. (2023). The Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum (Independent Curriculum) in Strengthening Students’ Character in Indonesia, Aqlamuna: Journal of Educational Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, 136–155.
  9. Haq, H. (2024). Evaluation of the Implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Secondary Schools in the Digital Era, International Journal of Post Axial: Futuristic Teaching and Learning, 215–228.
  10. Albaar, M. R., Acim, A., and Abdullah, A. (2023). Impact of Teacher Certification on Teacher Motivation and Performance in State Senior High Schools in Ternate City, Indonesia, Journal of Educational Management and Learning, Vol. 1, No. 1, 16–21. doi:10.60084/jeml.v1i1.59.
  11. Vitoria, L., Ramli, M., Johar, R., and Mawarpury, M. (2024). Key Influences on Students’ Academic Success: Insights from Scholarly Research, Journal of Educational Management and Learning, Vol. 2, No. 1, 9–19. doi:10.60084/jeml.v2i1.164.
  12. Karyadi, P. A., and Paristiowati, M. (2024). Evaluating Learning Motivation: An Analysis of Students’ Engagement in Online Learning Environments, Journal of Educational Management and Learning, Vol. 2, No. 1, 44–49. doi:10.60084/jeml.v2i1.193.
  13. Ndari, W., and Mahmudah, F. N. (2023). Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and its challenges, European Journal of Education and Pedagogy, Vol. 4, No. 3, 111–116.
  14. Sasmita, N. R., Ramadeska, S., Utami, R., Adha, Z., Putri, U., Syarafina, R. H., Reskiaddin, L. O., Kamal, S., Yarmaliza, Y., Muliadi, M., and Saputra, A. (2023). Maternal and Child Healthcare Services in Aceh Province, Indonesia: A Correlation and Clustering Analysis in Statistics, Infolitika Journal of Data Science, Vol. 1, No. 1, 22–31. doi:10.60084/ijds.v1i1.88.
  15. Harefa, D., Sarumaha, M., Telaumbanua, K., Telaumbanua, T., Laia, B., and Hulu, F. (2023). Relationship Student Learning Interest To The Learning Outcomes Of Natural Sciences, International Journal of Educational Research & Social Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 2, 240–246. doi:10.51601/ijersc.v4i2.614.
  16. Wiedyawati, R. A., Zakiy, M., and Tjahjono, H. K. (2023). Impact of Leader-Member Exchange and Perceived Organizational Support on Job Embeddedness: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy, Indatu Journal of Management and Accounting, Vol. 1, Nos. 2 SE-Articles, 69–78. doi:10.60084/ijma.v1i2.125.
  17. Idroes, R., Subianto, M., Zahriah, Z., Afidh, R. P. F., Irvanizam, I., Noviandy, T. R., Sugara, D. R., Mursyida, W., Zhilalmuhana, T., and Idroes, G. M. (2023). Digital Transformations in Vocational High School: A Case Study of Management Information System Implementation in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Journal of Educational Management and Learning, Vol. 1, No. 2, 48–54. doi:10.60084/jeml.v1i2.128.
  18. Takona, J. P. (2024). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches / Sixth Edition, Quality & Quantity, Vol. 58, No. 1, 1011–1013. doi:10.1007/s11135-023-01798-2.
  19. Indriaty, I., Ginting, B., Hasballah, K., and Djufri, D. (2023). A Comparative Study of Total Tannin Contents and Antimicrobial Activities in Methanol Extracts of Rhizophoraceae Species, Heca Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 1, Nos. 2 SE-Articles, 62–70. doi:10.60084/hjas.v1i2.89.
  20. Winarsih, A., Idroes, R., Zulfiani, U., Yusuf, M., Mahmudi, M., Saiful, S., and Rahman, S. A. (2023). Method Validation for Pesticide Residues on Rice Grain in Aceh Besar District, Indonesia Using Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD), Leuser Journal of Environmental Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, 18–24. doi:10.60084/ljes.v1i1.37.
  21. Maulana, A., Idroes, G. M., Kemala, P., Maulydia, N. B., Sasmita, N. R., Tallei, T. E., Sofyan, H., and Rusyana, A. (2023). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Predict Student Performance: A Comparative Machine Learning Approach, Journal of Educational Management and Learning, Vol. 1, No. 2, 64–70. doi:10.60084/jeml.v1i2.132.
  22. Prahastina, L., Indriayu, M., and Matsuri, M. (2024). Exploring the Effectiveness of the Merdeka Curriculum in Promoting Effective Learning Practices, JPPI (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia), Vol. 10, No. 3, 111–121.
  23. Aloo, J. O., Ajowi, J. O., and Aloka, P. J. O. (2017). Influence of Teacher Performance Appraisal on Effectiveness in Curriculum Evaluation in Kenyan Public Secondary Schools.
  24. Süğümlü, Ü. (2022). Investigation of the Relationship between Curriculum Literacy and Teacher Performance, International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1342–1355.
  25. Legault, L. (2020). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation, Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2416–2419. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1139.
  26. Gouëdard, P., Pont, B., Hyttinen, S., and Huang, P. (2020). Curriculum Reform: A Literature Review to Support Effective Implementation.

Downloads

Published

2025-01-08

How to Cite

Syukri, S., Ismail, I., & Sofyan, H. (2025). How the Merdeka Curriculum Implementation and Teacher Motivation Shape High School Performance Outcomes in West Aceh, Indonesia. Journal of Educational Management and Learning, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.60084/jeml.v3i1.252

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): May 2025

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Shara Syukri, Ismail Ismail, Hizir Sofyan

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.