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This article examines the strategic role of Vocational High Schools (SMK) in preparing a skilled workforce amid global dynamics and rapid technological developments. The focus of the discussion lies in the implementation of the Independent Curriculum which provides flexibility for educational units to develop learning that is contextual, adaptive, and relevant to the needs of the world of work. Through strengthening the project-based learning approach, teaching factory, and collaboration with industry, the Merdeka Curriculum encourages harmony between learning in vocational schools and competencies needed by the business world and the industrial world (DUDI). This article analyzes curriculum documents, learning outcomes, and Graduate Competency Standards (SKL), and identifies a number of challenges in implementation, such as inequality of facilities, limited involvement of DUDI, uneven teacher capacity, and regulatory complexity. By referring to regulations such as Permendikbudristek No. 12 of 2024 and Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2016, the author proposes systematic steps such as competency mapping, preparation of Learning Objectives Flow (ATP), and evidence-based evaluation. The transformation of vocational education through collaboration between stakeholders is expected to create an educational ecosystem that is responsive to industrial and technological changes. This article concludes that vocational schools must be able to become institutions that not only produce job-ready graduates, but also innovative and creative in creating new job opportunities.

Education is important for the lives of people in a country. In order to create an educational system that is organized and has a vision, a policy in the form of a curriculum is needed. In a country that adheres to a democratic system, it is necessary to involve or participate the community in the policy formulation and implementation process. This policy paper investigates the Merdeka Curriculum policy model created and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Public policy models include top-down, bottom-up and a combination of the two. The research method used in this article is qualitative with data sources obtained from books, scientific articles, and other credible information found on the internet. In the policy formulation process, studies were conducted and the government involved parents. In addition, in the implementation process, the Merdeka Curriculum is carried out in stages with a trial period carried out by several schools called Mover Schools. In addition, the policy also has an evaluation instrument in the form of a Minimum Competency Assessment. Based on the findings related to this policy, it can be concluded that the policy model in the Merdeka Curriculum is bottom-up.  

Curriculum administration is all business processes that have been planned and attempted deliberately and earnestly as well as continuous guidance on teaching and learning activities effectively and efficiently in order to achieve the educational goals that have been set. The importance of curriculum administration in educational institutions, which includes the selection of materials, teaching methods, and assessments that are in accordance with educational goals and student needs. Curriculum administration plays a role in ensuring that the curriculum is well structured and organized through various levels of planning, implementation, and supervision. Curriculum evaluation is also an important part of education management, aiming to collect information about the effectiveness of curriculum implementation and the impact of learning outcomes. In addition, this journal highlights the role of teachers in curriculum administration as implementers, adapters, developers, and researchers. The presence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology presents an opportunity for educators to carry out a learning process that focuses on the needs, interests, and learning styles of students, because the independent curriculum requires educators to carry out differentiated learning as an initiative in facilitating students, especially in Pancasila education, which incidentally is still carried out by conventional models or methods.