Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka dalam Pembelajaran Pendidian Agama Islam: Kajian Terhadap Hasil Belajar Siswa SMP Muhammadiyah Tirtayasa

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum on students’ learning outcomes in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) at SMP Muhammadiyah Tirtayasa. The study is based on the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, which emphasizes student-centered learning, project-based activities, and character development through the Pancasila Student Profile. These approaches are expected to improve students’ motivation and academic achievement, especially in PAI subjects. This research employed a descriptive quantitative method. Data were collected through questionnaires and documentation of Grade VIII students’ report card scores. The respondents consisted of 16 students. The data were analyzed using the Product Moment correlation technique to determine the relationship between the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum (variable X) and PAI learning outcomes (variable Y). The findings revealed a correlation coefficient value of r = 0.913, indicating a very strong relationship between the two variables. The significance test showed that rcount (0.913) was higher than rtable (0.482) at the 5% significance level, meaning that the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) was accepted. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (82.81%) indicated that the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum significantly contributed to students’ learning outcomes, while 17.19% was influenced by other factors outside this study. The study concludes that the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum has a positive and significant effect on Grade VIII students’ learning outcomes in Islamic Religious Education during the 2025–2026 academic yeamotivation