Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum Policy at Public Junior High Schools in Bogor City

The Independent Curriculum was a breakthrough initiated by the Central Government through the Ministry of Education, Research, and Technology, which was implemented after the Covid-19 pandemic. The study aimed to analyze the implementation of the Independent Curriculum policy in Public Junior High Schools in Bogor City. The research method used was descriptive qualitative. Data collection used observation, interview, and literature study techniques. The informants for this study were 21 people consisting of employees of the Education Office, teachers, and parents of students. This study used George C. Edwards III's policy implementation theory, which consists of four main factors: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure, as a research analysis tool. The results of the study showed data that the implementation of the Independent Curriculum was reasonably practical. However, there were still challenges related to teacher readiness, availability of resources, and understanding of new learning methods. This study concluded that ongoing training, systematic policy evaluation, and collaboration between education stakeholders are essential to support the successful implementation of the Independent Curriculum.