Transformational Leadership of School Principals in the Implementation of the Independent Curriculum

Authors

  • Nia Lilik Ayu Nur Indah Sari Universitas Jambi
  • Mohamad Muspawi Universitas Jambi
  • Linardo Pratama Universitas Jambi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v6i1.585

Keywords:

Transformational Leadership, School Principals, Independent Curriculum

Abstract

Implementing the Independent Curriculum faces challenges; principals' transformational leadership is needed to improve teacher readiness and performance. This study aims to analyze the principal's transformational leadership implementation in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum at State Senior High School 6, Jambi City by reviewing four main aspects: ideal influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. This research uses qualitative methods with a case study approach through observation, interviews, and documentation of school principals, deputy principal for curriculum, and teachers. The research results show that in the aspect of ideal influence, the school principal has been optimal in providing an example through integrity and commitment. Regarding inspirational motivation, school principals have not been optimal in encouraging teachers to innovate, so learning innovation is still limited. Regarding intellectual stimulation, school principals have not been optimal in encouraging teacher creativity and critical thinking, especially in developing project-based and differentiated learning models. Regarding individual consideration, the principal has been optimal in providing personal support through mentoring and training. Supporting factors include the principal's commitment, training, and adequate facilities. The obstacle faced is the lack of teacher skills in methods. In the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project, conventional methods are still used, and teaching materials are limited. The solutions implemented include regular training, mentoring by young teachers, and collaboration with external parties to support project-based learning.

References

Agustian, E., Hidayati, D., & Widodo. (2023). Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah dalam Penerapan Kurikulum Merdeka. Jurnal Akuntabilitas Manajemen Pendidikan, 11(1), 67–75.

Akgöz, E. E., ?ahin, F., & Erdo?an, O. (2024). The mediator role of school climate in the relationship between instructional leadership behaviors of school principals and teacher autonomy. International Journal of Educational Management, 38(4), 1142–1159. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-07-2023-0323

Alsarawi, A. A., & Cieminski, A. B. (2024). The importance of instructional leadership in supporting learning disabilities programs: Perspectives from Saudi educators. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2024.2427607

Baidowi, A. (2022). Manajemen Perubahan Pendidikan. Jambura Journal of Educational Management, 3(1), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.37411/jjem.v3i1.1278

Baidowi, A. (2024). Strategi implementasi visi dan misi dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan. Al-Mikraj: Jurnal Studi Islam dan Humaniora, 4(2), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.37680/almikraj.v4i02.4448

Botutihe, P., Masaong, A. K., & Marhawati, B. (2023). Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Penerapan Kurikulum Merdeka Sekolah Dasar. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 3(2), 6424–6436. Retrieved from https://j-innovative.org/index.php/Innovative/article/view/1119

Djafri, N. (2025). Implementing transglobal leadership among senior high school principals in the Globalization 4.0 era: A Merdeka Belajar perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Educational Organization and Leadership, 32(2), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.18848/2329-1656/CGP/v32i02/47-67

Effendi, Y. R. (2022). Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Pengimplementasian Program Pendidikan Karakter di Era Global. JDMP (Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen Pendidikan), 6(1). https://doi.org/10.26740/jdmp.v6n1.p17-32.

Faqihudin, M. (2024). Implementasi Budaya Sekolah dalam Membentuk Profesionalisme Guru: Implementation of School Culture in Shaping Teacher Professionalism. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 5(1), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v5i1.413

Handri, N. (2020). Merdeka Belajar; Antara Retorika dan Aplikasi. E-Tech: Jurnal Ilmiah Teknologi Pendidikan, 8(1),1-29. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/et.v8i1.107288

Hasannah, A. W., & Rudiyanto. (2024). Integritas Kepemimpinan Kepala Sekolah dalam Meningkatkan Kompetensi Profesional Guru PAI. Ideas: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, dan Budaya, 10(1), 173-182. https://doi.org/10.32884/ideas.v10i1.1670

Hutabarat, H., Harahap, M. S., & Elindra, R. (2022). Analisis penerapan kurikulum merdeka belajar di SMA Negeri Sekota Padangsidimpuan. Jurnal MathEdu (Mathematic Education Journal), 5(3), 58-69.

Idialita, I., Yusrizal, Y., & Marwan, M. (2024). Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah, Budaya Sekolah dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Komitmen Guru dalam Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Sma Kota Juang, Kabupaten Bireuen. Jurnal Review Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 7(4), 19027–19037. https://doi.org/10.31004/jrpp.v7i4.42000

Irawati, D., & Susanto, H. (2022). Kesiapan Guru dalam Mengimplementasikan Metode Project Penguatan Pelajar Profil Pancasila (P5) pada Kurikulum Merdeka. Jurnal Pendidikan Inovatif, 9(1), 34-50.

Iriana, U., Trihantoyo, S., Nursalim, M., Khamidi, A., Sholeh, M., & Amalia, K. (2025). Literature Review: Strategi Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Meningkatkan Sikap Handarbeni Guru Di Lembaga Paud. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(01), 231-242.

Kefi, Y., & Rosnelli, R. (2024). Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah dalam Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka di SMA Deli Murni Bandar Baru. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen dan Pendidikan, 4(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.30872/jimpian.v4i1.2919

Komala, D. Y. P. (2023). Gaya Kepemimpinan Transformasional Untuk Pengembangan Pendidikan Karakter. Jurnal Sosial Teknologi, 3(11), 905-910.

Kuncoro, I. (2021). Urgensi Leadership Dalam Manajemen Pendidikan Islam. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 2(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v2i1.17

Liu, S., & Hallinger, P. (2022). School leadership and teacher professional learning: Mediating effects of collective teacher efficacy. Teaching and Teacher Education, 108, 103560.

Marliyani, T., Irianto, D. M., & Prihantini, P. (2023). Peran Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Optimalisasi Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Sekolah Dasar. Naturalistic: Jurnal Kajian Dan Penelitian Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 8(1), 154-160.

Masaong, A.K. (2022). Sekapur Sirih Pemimpinan Transformasional Berfikir Out of The Box. Bandung: Alfabeta.

Mawarni, F., Trisiana, A., & Widyaningrum, R. (2023). Analisis Pemahaman Guru Dalam Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Sd Negeri 1 Ampel. Journal of Educational Learning and Innovation (ELIa), 3(2), 380-402.

McMahon, M., & Torrance, D. (2023). Standards for school leadership and principalship. In The Palgrave Handbook of Teacher Education Research: Volume 1, 2 (pp. 665–686). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16193-3_25

Mulyana, A., & Rukoyimah, R. (2021). Pengaruh gaya kepemimpinan transformasional dan komitmen organisasi terhadap kinerja guru. Jurnal Indonesia Membangun, 20(1), 139-148.

Munawwarah, F., Jannah, F., & Nurhadi, A. (2024). Peran Kepala Sekolah dalam Meningkatkan Mutu Sumber Daya Manusia: The Role of School Principals in Improving the Quality of Human Resources. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 5(1), 147-158.

Naidoo, P. (2019). Perceptions of teachers and school management teams of the leadership roles of public school principals. South African Journal of Education, 39(2), 1534. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v39n2a1534

Nelisma, Y. (2022). Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar Perspektif Manajemen Pendidikan Islam. Al-Fahim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 4(2), 158-172.

Permatasari, F., Lestari, N. A., Christie, C. D. Y., & Suhaimi, I. (2023). Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Meningkatkan 102 Mutu Kinerja Guru: Studi Meta Analisis. Indonesian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(3), 923–944.

Rahayuningsih, F. (2022). Internalisasi Filosofi Pendidikan Ki Hajar Dewantara Dalam Mewujudkan Profil Pelajar Pancasila. SOCIAL: Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPS, 1(3), 177–187.

Ralebese, M. D., Jita, L., & Badmus, O. T. (2025). Examining primary school principals’ instructional leadership practices: A case study on curriculum reform and implementation. Education Sciences, 15(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15010070

Rohmah, N. N. S., Narimo, S., & Widyasari, C. (2023). Strategi Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila Dimensi Berkebhinekaan Global di Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Elementaria Edukasia, 6(3), 1254–1269.

Rosadi, H. Y. (2020). Tantangan Menjadi Guru Bk Dengan Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar Di Masa Pandemi Covid-19. Prosiding Konferensi Ilmiah Mahasiswa Unissula (KIMU) Klaster Humanoira, 6(4), 5–24.

Rosyadi, I., Widyaningsih, R. A., & Uzliva, C. A. (2023). Perilaku Profesionalisme Kepala Sekolah. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 4(1), 13-28.

Rusmiati, M, N, Ashifa, R & Herlambang, Y, T (2023). Analisis Problematika Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka di Sekolah Dasar. Naturalistic: Jurnal Kajian Penelitian dan Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 7 (2). 1490-1499

Salsabilla, E. N., Putri, N. F. R., & Wildan, M. A. (2024). Peran Kepemimpinan Transformasional Dalam Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia. J-CEKI: Jurnal Cendekia Ilmiah, 4(1), 727-739.

Sasmita, E., & Darmansyah, D. (2022). Analisis faktor-faktor penyebab kendala guru dalam menerapkan kurikulum merdeka (studi kasus: SDN 21 Koto Tuo, Kec. Baso). Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Konseling (JPDK), 4(6), 5545-5549.

Sebastian, J., Allensworth, E., & Huang, H. (2016). The role of teacher leadership in how principals influence classroom instruction and student learning. American Journal of Education, 123(1), 69–108. https://doi.org/10.1086/688169

Septiani, R., Syamsudin, S., & Mujahidin, I. (2022). Peran Kepala Sekolah Dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Guru Di TK Islam Terpadu Izzatul Islam Karawang. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 3(2), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v3i2.98

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Suryana, C., & Iskandar, S. (2022). Kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam menerapkan konsep merdeka belajar di sekolah dasar. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(4), 7317-7326.

Suyatno. (2021). Kepemimpinan Transformasional dalam Meningkatkan Mutu Pembelajaran di Sekolah. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 12(1), 78-92.

Suyitno, S., Sholeh, M. ., & Khamidi , A. . (2024). Manajemen Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila Untuk Meningkatkan Karakter Peduli Lingkungan: Project Management Strengthening Pancasila Student Profiles to Improve Environmentally Caring Character. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 5(2), 539–552. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v5i2.539

Suzannaa, D., & Rizky, F. (2022). Pengaruh Kepemimpinan Kepala Sekolah Terhadap Kinerja Guru SMA di Kabupaten Sintang. In Proceeding Seminar Nasional Bisnis, Seri VI, 257-268.

Tsegaye, M. A., & Botha, R. J. (2020). Empowering secondary-school principals in Ethiopia to perform their instructional leadership roles more effectively. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 60(3), 764–782. https://doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2020/v60n3a12

Varelasiwi, R. S., Maisyaroh, M., & Burhanuddin, B. (2023). Implementasi Kepemimpinan Transformasional dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Guru Raudatul Atfal. Idaarah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 7(2), 395-403.

Wahyuni, F., & Maunah, B. (2021). Kepemimpinan transformasional dalam pendidikan Islam. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education Management, 2(2), 141-162.

Yani, N., Febrina , R., Hutabarat, R., Asmendri, A., & Sari, M. (2024). Peran Strategis Kepala Sekolah dalam Perencanaan dan Implementasi Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila: The Principal’s Strategic Role in Planning and Implementing the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 5(2), 453–462. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v5i2.481

Yanti, Y., Juliansyah, M. E., Erlina, E., Hijriah, U., & Irfani, B. (2024). Peranan Guru dalam Mewujudkan Pendidikan Karakter Era Kurikulum Merdeka: The Role of Teachers in Realizing Character Education in the Independent Curriculum Era. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 5(2), 513-524.

Downloads

Published

2025-04-12

How to Cite

Sari, N. L. A. N. I., Muspawi, M., & Pratama, L. (2025). Transformational Leadership of School Principals in the Implementation of the Independent Curriculum. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 6(1), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v6i1.585