The Process of Developing the Islamic Religious Education Curriculum in Schools and Madrasah

Abstract

This research aims to provide a scientific contribution to the development of the curriculum in Madrasahs as a response to the dynamics of changing times that affect various aspects of life, especially in the field of education. Social and technological advancements require innovation and adjustments to the education system, particularly in the curriculum as the main foundation in the learning process. In the context of Madrasah education, curriculum development is strategically important because this institution not only focuses on religious education but must also produce graduates who are flexible, competitive, and aligned with global demands, while upholding Islamic spiritual values. This research applies a qualitative approach with the library research method through an examination of various literature sources related to the research topic. The literature data analysis techniques used include content analysis to identify main patterns and themes from literature documents, comparative analysis to compare curriculum development models between countries or institutions, and thematic analysis to group data based on themes such as technological innovation and spiritual values. The analysis shows that curriculum development includes several crucial stages, such as establishing a development model, evaluating needs and situational context, formulating general and specific objectives (objectives, aims, goals), arranging teaching materials, implementing the curriculum, as well as assessment and feedback on the results of implementation. Furthermore, it was found that most educators still need improvement in their ability to implement the Merdeka Curriculum. Factors such as facilities and infrastructure, as well as the utilization of modern educational technology, for example gamification, also influence the effectiveness of curriculum implementation. Conceptually, this research suggests that the Islamic Religious Education curriculum be designed to be more adaptive, contextual, and capable of integrating religious values with current educational challenges and needs. The results of this research have practical implications for Madrasahs and related parties, such as improving the quality of education through intensive training for educators to master the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, including the use of educational technology like gamification to make learning more engaging and effective. Madrasahs can allocate budgets to improve facilities and infrastructure, such as digital laboratories or e-learning platforms, to support the integration of Islamic spiritual values with global challenges. Furthermore, these implications encourage collaboration among Madrasahs to share best practices in curriculum development, so that graduates become more flexible and competitive in the digital era. For related parties such as the Ministry of Religious Affairs and local governments, it is recommended that national policies be strengthened through the preparation of standard guidelines for the development of more adaptive Madrasah curricula, incorporating elements of technological innovation and regular evaluations of their implementation. These policies can include the allocation of special funds for teacher training, infrastructure procurement, and incentives for Madrasahs that successfully integrate Islamic values with modern educational needs. Additionally, regulations are needed to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum nationally, to ensure that Madrasahs can produce graduates ready to compete globally while maintaining their spiritual identity.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan sumbangan ilmiah dalam pengembangan kurikulum di Madrasah sebagai jawaban atas dinamika perubahan zaman yang memengaruhi berbagai aspek kehidupan, terutama di bidang pendidikan. Kemajuan sosial dan teknologi mengharuskan adanya inovasi dan penyesuaian sistem pendidikan, khususnya pada kurikulum sebagai fondasi utama dalam proses belajar. Dalam lingkup pendidikan Madrasah, pengembangan kurikulum sangat penting secara strategis karena institusi ini tidak hanya fokus pada pendidikan agama, tetapi juga harus menghasilkan lulusan yang fleksibel, bersaing, dan sesuai dengan tuntutan global, sambil tetap menjunjung nilai-nilai spiritual Islam. Penelitian ini menerapkan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode studi pustaka (library research) melalui kajian terhadap berbagai sumber literatur yang berkaitan dengan topik penelitian. Teknik analisis data pustaka yang digunakan meliputi content analysis untuk mengidentifikasi pola dan tema utama dari dokumen literatur, comparative analysis untuk membandingkan model pengembangan kurikulum antarnegara atau institusi, serta thematic analysis untuk mengelompokkan data berdasarkan tema-tema seperti inovasi teknologi dan nilai spiritual. Analisis menunjukkan bahwa pengembangan kurikulum mencakup beberapa tahap krusial, seperti penetapan model pengembangan, evaluasi kebutuhan dan konteks situasional, penyusunan tujuan umum dan spesifik (objectives, aims, goals), pengaturan materi ajar, implementasi kurikulum, serta penilaian dan pemberian masukan terhadap hasil penerapan. Lebih lanjut, ditemukan bahwa sebagian besar tenaga pendidik masih membutuhkan peningkatan kemampuan dalam mengimplementasikan Kurikulum Merdeka. Faktor seperti sarana prasarana dan pemanfaatan teknologi pendidikan modern, misalnya gamifikasi, juga turut memengaruhi efektivitas pelaksanaan kurikulum. Secara konseptual, penelitian ini menyarankan agar kurikulum Pendidikan Agama Islam dirancang lebih adaptif, kontekstual, dan mampu mengintegrasikan nilai-nilai keagamaan dengan tantangan serta kebutuhan pendidikan saat ini. Hasil penelitian ini memiliki implikasi praktis bagi Madrasah dan pihak terkait, seperti meningkatkan kualitas pendidikan melalui pelatihan intensif bagi tenaga pendidik untuk menguasai implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka, termasuk penggunaan teknologi pendidikan seperti gamifikasi untuk membuat pembelajaran lebih menarik dan efektif. Madrasah dapat mengalokasikan anggaran untuk memperbaiki sarana prasarana, seperti laboratorium digital atau platform e-learning, guna mendukung integrasi nilai spiritual Islam dengan tantangan global. Selain itu, implikasi ini mendorong kolaborasi antar-Madrasah untuk berbagi praktik terbaik dalam pengembangan kurikulum, sehingga lulusan menjadi lebih fleksibel dan kompetitif di era digital. Untuk pihak terkait seperti Kementerian Agama dan pemerintah daerah, disarankan agar kebijakan nasional diperkuat melalui penyusunan panduan standar pengembangan kurikulum Madrasah yang lebih adaptif, dengan memasukkan elemen inovasi teknologi dan evaluasi berkala terhadap implementasinya. Kebijakan ini dapat mencakup alokasi dana khusus untuk pelatihan guru, pengadaan infrastruktur, dan insentif bagi Madrasah yang berhasil mengintegrasikan nilai-nilai Islam dengan kebutuhan pendidikan modern. Selain itu, diperlukan regulasi untuk memantau dan mengevaluasi efektivitas kurikulum secara nasional, guna memastikan Madrasah mampu menghasilkan lulusan yang siap bersaing global sambil menjaga identitas spiritual.