THE MERDEKA CURRICULUM IN STRENGTHENING CHARACTER EDUCATION IN BASIC EDUCATION

The purpose of this research is to describe the role and contribution of integrating the merdeka curriculum in strengthening students' character education in basic education. This research is a descriptive qualitative research with a literature study approach. The data collection techniques were carried out through the documentation method of journals, articles, and books related to the Pancasila and character education student profile project programme. The data analysis technique consists of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of this study are to interpret the theoretical basis regarding the independent curriculum in strengthening character education in basic education which includes: (1) merdeka Curriculum; (2) Character Education; (3) Strengthening the Pancasila Student Profile (P5) Project in Strengthening Character Education. It was concluded that the merdeka curriculum focuses on improving the quality and quality of education academically and developing the character of students. The Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) programme in the merdeka curriculum is effective in developing character education and the personality of students who are moral, polite, courteous, and ethical based on the nation's culture and the noble values of Pancasila