Cultivating Creativity and Responsibility through the Mandalika Friday Program in the Merdeka Curriculum

Background/purpose. This research explores the implementation of the MANDALIKA Friday Program at State Islamic High School 2 Mataram within the framework of the Merdeka Curriculum. The study aims to evaluate how the program fosters creativity, responsibility, and entrepreneurial skills among students and how it aligns with the educational objectives of the Merdeka Curriculum, particularly in promoting character education and skill development. Materials/methods. The study employs a qualitative research approach with a case study design, focusing on the MANDALIKA Friday Program. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 29 participants, including policymakers, teachers, and students, along with real-time observations and document analysis. The collected data was analyzed using the interactive model, which involves data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Results. The survey results indicate that the MANDALIKA Friday Program is highly effective in fostering various aspects of the Pancasila Student Profile. Notable improvements were observed in areas such as character building (81.8%), responsibility (86.4%), and cultural appreciation (81.8%). However, there was room for enhancement in fostering self-reflection and originality, as these areas received slightly lower ratings (59.1%). Conclusion. The MANDALIKA Friday Program successfully supports the Merdeka Curriculum’s goals by enhancing students’ creativity, responsibility, and ethical values. Despite some areas for improvement in fostering critical and independent thinking, the program presents a valuable model for integrating experiential learning with national educational objectives. Future research should focus on refining the program to enhance its effectiveness further.