The Prototype Curriculum, Promoting Students’ Creativity in Bandung City
Education is one of the sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to maintain the rhythm and effectiveness of learning in the city of Bandung, a new curriculum has also begun to be applied by several driving schools. There are 23 schools from the PAUD-SMP level that are trying a new curriculum called the prototype curriculum (merdeka).
The Covid-19 pandemic not only affected economic and health sectors, but also educational ones. To maintain the rythm and effectivity in learning, a new curriculum has been implemented in some pioneering schools.
In Bandung City, there are 23 schools from kindergarten to junior high schools who implement the new curriculum named prototype curriculum (merdeka).
Although they had to ramble on for about three months, the headmasters said that they had found the effective way to implement the curriculum for their learners.
It was stated in a discussion with Commission X the People’s Representative Council of Indonesia (DPR RI) with the headmasters of pioneering schools in the Bandung City Hall, Friday, 18 March 2022.
A headmaster having a similar idea was the Headmaster of SMPN 12 Bandung, Agus Deni.
Agus stated that the curriculum was more flexible and giving freedom to students as to making them think more creatively.
“In distance learning (PJJ), our school started entrepreneurship-based learning themed food security and economy. Throughout the year, we integrated project-based learning with several subjects,” Agus said.
The Headmaster of SDN 061 Cijerah, Januar Musliadi, had the same belief. He said that when it was first applied, he and the teachers in his school were still learning the merdeka curriculum.
“Apparently, after we implemented it, it was a curriculum with various inter-curricular learning activities. Students were given sufficient time to comprehend concepts and strengthen potentials,” Januar said.
Additionally, according to Januar, merdeka curriculum had no longer Minimum Learning Mastery Standard (KKM) that had been a source of anxieties for students, parents, and teachers.
“Students are learning more comfortably, exploring themselves. (It) does not only focus on learning materials, but also on improving their soft skills,” he said.
Looking at this positive development, the Acing Mayor of Bandung City, Yana Mulyana, admitted that he was worried about the increasing omricon cases in the past two months that could influence students’ learning.
“We selectively chose the schools that could implement face-to-face learning (PTM) and those that could only implement it partially. We also complement it through the vaccination. Alhamdulillah, the first and second vaccination rate have reached 100% in Bandung City, while the third one is still currently in progress,” Yana emphasized.
Yana added that, to date, there were no schools closed due to the new cases from school clusters. Additionally, their commitment in promoting education in Bandung City was also seen from the budgetary allocation (APBD) of Bandung City for education that was beyond the regulated percentage.
“We are beyond the intended percentage (20%). The educational budget in Bandung City is at 27%. Indeed, we give a fairly large portion for education,” he said.
In the discussion, the Vice Head of Commission X DPR RI, Hetifah Sjaifudian, exemplified how the pandemic affected the long-lasting distance learning. It also led to the discrepancy in students’ knowledge.
“Hearing stories from educators here concerning the implementation of merdeka curriculum makes me hope it could be perfected directly and continuously. And of course, it must be based on article 35 section 2, and article 36 section 1,” Hetifah said.
I also believe that Bandung could be referenced as to participative technology in education for other regions. It can utilize the existing facilities to maximize learners’ potentials,” Hetifah said. (din)*
The Head of Communication and Informatics Agency of Bandung City
Yayan A. Brilyana
