Optimizing the quality of Islamic Senior High School graduates through curriculum management of vocational programs based on pesantrens in East Java, Indonesia

Although recent research on curriculum management has been extensive, the studies focused solely on public schooling sectors. Our study examined curriculum management in Indonesian Islamic schools to fill this gap, given the significant number of Islamic-based schools in Indonesia. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews, passive participation observation, and document studies. The findings were organized into three themes: (1) the design of the curriculum, (2) the implementation of the curriculum, and (3) the evaluation of the curriculum. The analysis suggests curriculum management was enacted under micro, meso, and macro practices. The study revealed three key findings: the curriculum design was anchored by structural administration from the government, the curriculum implementation was based on surrounding needs, and both internal and external stakeholders evaluated the curriculum. Based on these findings, this study recommends a model for designing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum management in other contexts.