PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING UNDER THE MERDEKA BELAJAR CURRICULUM IN UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOL CONTEXT
Abstrak
The implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum has introduced a major shift in English Language Teaching (ELT) in Indonesia by emphasizing flexibility, learner-centered pedagogy, and contextual adaptation. However, empirical evidence on how these principles are enacted in under-resourced school contexts remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining pedagogical practices in ELT under the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in an under-resourced junior secondary school. The study aims to describe how English teachers implement curriculum principles and how these practices are adapted to contextual constraints. Employing a qualitative descriptive research design, data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis involving an English teacher, school stakeholders, and students. Data were analyzed inductively through thematic analysis to identify recurring pedagogical patterns. The findings reveal that English teaching was characterized by learner-centered and adaptive practices supported by genre-based pedagogy, collaborative learning, and pragmatic differentiation. Teachers selectively integrated technology as a pedagogical support while relying primarily on printed and local learning resources. Pedagogical practices were extended beyond the classroom through the Pancasila Student Profile Project and an English Club, which enhanced communicative competence, character development, and learner confidence. These practices reflected a hybrid pedagogy balancing curriculum ideals with contextual realities. This study contributes empirical insights into classroom-level enactment of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in under-resourced ELT contexts, highlighting the critical role of teacher agency. Limitations include the focus on a single school context. Future research is recommended to adopt comparative or longitudinal designs to further explore curriculum implementation across diverse educational settings.
Keywords: Merdeka Belajar Curriculum, English Language Teaching, Pedagogical Practices, Under-Resourced School Context, Learner-Centered Pedagogy.
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