The Merdeka Curriculum gives students the freedom to choose concepts and
strengthen their competition. The aim of this study was to describe the perception
of 11th grade students' in SMA N 1 Sampang towards the implementation of the
Merdeka Curriculum in English learning. This study uses quantitative and
qualitative methods involving questionnaires and interviews. Through 40
questionnaire items that included 23 positive questions and 17 negative questions
was distributed to 324 students and a total of 9 students was selected for interview.
The result of the study indicate as a good result with the percentage from the
concept of the Merdeka Curriculum is 73%, the structure of Merdeka Curriculum
is 63%, the Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila is 68%. The result showed
that the concept of the Merdeka Curriculum fosters the development of active,
creative, innovative, and optimal thinking skills in students. The reduction of
English study hours necessitates that students spend independent learning time
outside of class. The Merdeka Curriculum is predicated on the objective of
cultivating students' capacity as lifelong learners endowed with the values of the
Pancasila character.
ZUHR