Three Years of ‘Merdeka Belajar’

Has the Merdeka Belajar, Kampus Merdeka (Freedom Curriculum, Independent Campus) program really given the freedom to students, like the ideal education according to Ki Hajar Dewantara?

In early 2020, the Ministry of Education and Culture launched the Freedom Curriculum, Independent Campus (MBKM) program. This program, he said would “prepare students to become graduates who are tough, relevant to the needs of the times, and ready to become leaders with a high national spirit."

The legal basis for this program is Permendikbud No. 3/2020. As the name suggests, this program aims to give students the freedom to learn so that they can freely prepare themselves to face the challenges of post-college life, namely the world of work. Now, this program has been running for three years. This is the right moment to evaluate and reflect on three years of the freedom to learn.