INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF THE INDEPENDENT CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AT SRENGAT 01 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Abstract

The rapid evolution of educational demands in the 21st century has prompted the Indonesian Ministry of Education to implement the Merdeka Curriculum, a flexible and student-centered approach aimed at developing critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. This study explores the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum at SDN Srengat 01, focusing on how various teaching methods affect students’ critical thinking abilities. Using a qualitative descriptive method, data were gathered through classroom observations, in-depth interviews with teachers, student questionnaires, and documentation analysis. Results reveal both challenges and opportunities: while innovative strategies such as Project-Based Learning (PjBL), peer tutoring, administrative digitalisation, and interactive digital media show promise in enhancing critical thinking, their implementation is hindered by administrative burdens, inconsistent group work practices, and varying levels of teacher readiness. Students’ survey responses indicate mixed experiences with the new learning methods, with many expressing neutrality due to inconsistencies in delivery and limited self-confidence. The study concludes that to maximise the curriculum’s effectiveness, schools must invest in context-sensitive teacher training, reduce administrative overload through technology, and strengthen collaborative and digital learning support. These strategies, supported by prior research, are essential for creating an engaging, inclusive, and critically stimulating primary education environment.