Join us for a Fulbright Scholar lecture exploring what Indonesia’s Merdeka Belajar reform reveals about curriculum change and learning.
Speaker:
Dr. Anindito Aditomo - University of Surabaya; Center for Education and Policy Studies, Indonesia
Lecture Title:
Can Curriculum Reform in a Low-Performing, Decentralized Education System Improve Student Learning? Evidence from a National School Panel in Indonesia
Abstract:
This study examines Indonesia’s Merdeka Belajar reform using a difference-in-differences design and data from 27,032 primary schools to compare literacy and numeracy gains between early and later adopters of the new curriculum. Early adopters experienced significantly larger gains in literacy (0.22 SD) and numeracy (0.29 SD). Effects were stronger in rural than urban schools, narrowing rural–urban learning gaps, while numeracy gains were not significant in lower-SES schools. Overall, the findings suggest that curriculum reform can lead to meaningful learning gains, though equity challenges remain.
Read More