The Contribution of the Merdeka Curriculum to Students’ Creativity in  Indonesian Language Learning at SMP Negeri 1 Peusangan Selatan

Rayhan Magfirah; Alfi Syahrin; Ezmar

doi:10.47766/literatur.v8i1.6633

Authors

Rayhan Magfirah Universitas Almuslim, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8219-9183
Alfi Syahrin Universitas Almuslim, Indonesia
Ezmar Universitas Almuslim, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0420-8249

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47766/literatur.v8i1.6633

Keywords:

Merdeka Curriculum, student creativity, Indonesian language learning, poetry writing, pre experimental design

Abstract

This study examines the influence of the Merdeka Curriculum on students' creativity in Indonesian language learning at SMP Negeri 1 Peusangan Selatan, Bireuen Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. A quantitative pre-experimental approach was employed, using the One-Group Pretest -Posttest Design. The sample consisted of 29 students from class VIII.2, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through a poetry writing creativity test administered before and after the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, and scored using a validated rubric assessing originality, diction, imagery, and structural coherence. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the Paired Sample t-Test, and Normalized Gain (N-Gain) analysis, with normality testing conducted via the Shapiro-Wilk test using SPSS version 25. The results revealed a significant improvement in students' creativity scores, with the mean rising from 61.52 in the pretest to 76.28 in the posttest. The paired sample t-test yielded a significance value of .000 (p < 0.05), confirming a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores. Furthermore, the N-Gain analysis produced a mean score of 0.8049 (80.49%), categorized as high effectiveness. These findings demonstrate that the Merdeka Curriculum, through its project -based learning framework and the Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5), significantly and effectively enhances students' creative expression in Indonesian language learning. The study contributes empirical evidence to the emerging literature on Merdeka Curriculum implementation and offers practical implications for teachers, curriculum designers, and educational policymakers in diverse regional contexts.

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