INSIGHTS INTO ELT CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION IN INDONESIA: CHALLENGES, TRENDS, AND IMPLICATIONS
Abstract
The implementation of the English Language Teaching (ELT) curriculum in Indonesia continues to face challenges despite numerous reforms, including the transition from the 2013 Curriculum to the Merdeka Curriculum. This systematic literature review examines 37 studies published between 2013 and 2024 to identify trends and challenges in ELT curriculum implementation. Findings reveal that qualitative research methodologies, especially case studies and descriptive approaches, dominate the field. The primary challenges identified include limited teacher competence and proficiency, pedagogical and practical issues, and student-related challenges. Teachers often lack sufficient English proficiency and pedagogical skills to implement innovative approaches like Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), the Scientific Approach, and Genre-Based Approaches (GBA). Additionally, low student motivation and passive learning behaviours persist, further hindering curriculum effectiveness. The study suggests enhancing professional development to equip teachers with practical skills and curriculum familiarity. Practical and contextualized curriculum guidelines and comprehensive evaluation mechanisms are also needed to bridge the gap between policy and classroom practice. Addressing these challenges is essential for improving ELT outcomes in Indonesia.
References
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Friesen, N., & Su, H. (2022). What Is Pedagogy? Discovering the Hidden Pedagogical Dimension. Educational Theory, 73. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12569
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Lestari, M. B., & Margana, M. (2024). Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Implementation In Kurikulum Merdeka: A Lesson From English Teachers’ Voices. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(4), 1657–1672.
Lestari, N. B., Adia, A., Nirwana, P., & Mapgun, J. A. (2023). Portraying how a genre-based approach was employed by an EFL teacher under kurikulum merdeka. English Education & Applied Linguistics Journal, 6(3), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i4.11266
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Meldia, P., & Kardena, A. (2022). The The Teacher’s EFL Practice in Implementing ELT Curriculum. JADEs Journal of Academia in English Education, 3(1), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.32505/jades.v3i1.4269
Misbah, S., Waluyo, U., & Khotimah, K. (2020). “I FORGOT WHAT IT IS”: THE ENACTMENT OF 2013 CURRICULUM IN EFL CLASSROOM. Research and Innovation in Language Learning, 3(3), 234–252. https://doi.org/10.33603/rill.v3i3.4147
Mubarok, H., & Sofiana, N. (2022). An evaluation of English language teaching in Indonesian schools. KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v7i14.11947
Nadjib, N., & Triastuti, A. (2023). Indonesian EFL teachers’ portrayal of genre-based teaching practices: perceptions, implementation, and challenges. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 13(2), 475–498. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v13i2.6501
Ni’mah, F., Wafa, Z., & Sulistiyaningsih, E. F. (2024). The implementation of Merdeka Curriculum in English language teaching in high school. English Education and Literature Journal (E-Jou), 4(02), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.53863/ejou.v4i02.996
Nishanthi, R. (2018). The Importance of Learning English in Today World. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, Volume-3(Issue-1), 871–874. https://doi.org/10.31142/ijtsrd19061
Nugraha, I. S., & Suherdi, D. (2017). Scientific approach: an english learning-teaching (ELT) approach in the 2013 curriculum. Journal of English and Education, 5(2), 112–119.
Paramesthi, M., & Suwartono, T. (2023). Challenges and Strategies of English Language Teaching Within the Freedom-to-Learn Curriculum in Indonesia. Proceedings Series on Social Sciences & Humanities, 12, 502–509. https://doi.org/10.30595/pssh.v12i.839
Rahmawati, Y. (2019). Teachers’ Voices on the Challenges of the Implementation of Communicative Approach in Regards to the 2013 Curriculum. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 6(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.15408/ijee.v6i1.12761
Ratnaningsih, S. (2017). SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF 2013 CURRICULUM: TEACHERS’IMPLEMENTATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING. English Review: Journal of English Education, 6(1), 33–40.
Renandya, W. A., Hamied, F. A., & Nurkamto, J. (2018). English language proficiency in Indonesia: Issues and prospects. Journal of Asia TEFL, 15(3), 618–629. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2018.15.3.4.618
Ridwan, M. N., & Samanhudi, U. (2024). The Implementation of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Approach in Efl Classes; A Case Study on The Border Of Indonesia–Malaysia. EduInovasi: Journal of Basic Educational Studies, 4(2), 969–999. https://doi.org/10.47467/edu.v4i2.2635
Sari, A. A., & Fatmawati, N. L. (2023). The Implementation of Merdeka Curriculum in English Teaching Learning at The Seventh Grade of SMPIT Insan Mulia Surakarta in The Academic Year 2022/2023. UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta.
Setyaningrum, T. (2018). Teachers’ beliefs about Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and the implementation in classroom practices. Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora, 6(4), 152–161.
Shinta, I. C., & Tedjaatmadja, H. M. (2014). The Implementation of Communicative Language Teaching Approach in a Secondary School in Surabaya. Kata Kita: Journal of Language, Literature, and Teaching, 2(2), 41–45.
Souriyavongsa, T., Rany, S., Jafre Zainol Abidin, M., & Lai Mei, L. (2013). Factors Causes Students Low English Language Learning: A Case Study in the National University of Laos. International Journal of English Language Education, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.5296/ijele.v1i1.3100
Suparman, U., & Prakoso, G. H. (2024). Exploring high school English teachers’ perceptions of implementing scientific approach and their beliefs in English language teaching in Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 45(4), 1173–1184.
Suryani, H., & Amalia, S. (2018). Students’ English Proficiency: The Case of One Madrasah in Jambi City. Ta’dib: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 23(2), 194–201. https://doi.org/10.19109/td.v23i2.2566
Wahyudin, A. Y., & Sukyadi, D. (2015). A Closer Look at the Implementation of the Curriculum 2013 in Indonesia: Should the Scientific Approach Be Used in EFL Classroom? Rangsit Journal of Educational Studies, 2(2), 56–70.
Wirawan, F. (2020). A Study on the teaching media used by the English teacher at SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Malang. Jurnal Ilmiah Profesi Pendidikan, 5(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.29303/jipp.v5i2.115
Yabie, H. S., Husain, N., & Badu, H. (2021). The Implementation of 2013 Curriculum Learning Models based on English Teachers’ Experience at SMP Negeri 4 Gorontalo. Ideas: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Budaya, 7(4), 271–276.
Yulia, Y. (2013). Teaching challenges in Indonesia: Motivating students and teachers’ classroom language. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 3(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32884/ideas.v7i4.513
Zuhro, K., Nuriadi, ;, Amrullah, ;, Yuni, ;, & Lestari, B. (2023). Comparative Study of Post-Marriage Nationality Of Women in Legal Systems of Different Countries International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding Investigation of the English Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence in Implementing the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Public Junior High Schools in Praya West Nusa Tenggara. 10, 196–199. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v10i7.4871
Apsari, Y. (2018). Teachers’ Problems and Solutions in Implementing Curriculum 2013. Acuity: Journal of English Language Pedagogy, Literature and Culture, 3(1), 11–23. https://doi.org/10.35974/acuity.v3i1.620
Arif Rachman, L. (2023). ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING BASED ON MERDEKA CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IN BANDUNG: BASED ON THE SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS (Vol. 6, Issue 6).
Aziza, N. (2020). The Importance of English Language. www.researchparks.org
Boy Jon, R., Embong, R., Purnama, B., & Safar Wadi, A. (2021). THE CHALLENGES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN INDONESIA. International Journal of English and Applied Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.47709/ijeal.v1i3.1157
Budiharso, T. (2019). The Oral Language Proficiency of Indonesian English Teachers. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 4(1), 2019. www.ijeltal.org. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v4i1.436
Daar, G. F., & Ndorang, T. A. (2020). Analysis the implementation of communicative language teaching and classroom interaction in the effort to increase learners’ speaking skills. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Studies, 2(12).
Darsih, E. (2014). INDONESIAN EFL TEACHERSâ€TM PERCEPTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2013 ENGLISH CURRICULUM. English Review: Journal of English Education, 2(2), 192–199.
EF. (2024, January 20). English Proficiency Index. Https://Www.Ef.Co.Id/Epi/.
Ekawati, Y. N. (2018). The Implementation of Curriculum 2013: A Case Study of English Teachers’ Experience at SMA Lab School in Indonesia. Journal of Breakthrough English Language Teaching in Islamic Context, 1(2), 75–80.
Friesen, N., & Su, H. (2022). What Is Pedagogy? Discovering the Hidden Pedagogical Dimension. Educational Theory, 73. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12569
Gunawan, H., & Daud, A. (2018). The Implementation of 2013 Curriculum in English Teaching: Stories from Rural Areas. English Language Teaching Educational Journal, 1(2), 65–75. https://doi.org/10.12928/eltej.v1i2.616
Huda, M., & Lubis, A. H. (2019). Exploring the implementation of student-centered learning in EFL classrooms: Perspectives from Islamic secondary-school teachers in Indonesia. IJELTAL (Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics), 3(2), 187–201. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v3i2.147
Intansari, R. (2013). Teachers’ strategy in implementing English curriculum in a junior high school in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(2), 226–235. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v2i2.167
Laksono, K., Rohimah, N. K., & Fauziati, E. (2024). Exploring Challenges of Indonesian EFL Teachers in Implementing Differentiated Instruction in ELT Classroom. PANYONARA: Journal of English Education, 6(2), 1–14.
Lestari, M. B., & Margana, M. (2024). Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Implementation In Kurikulum Merdeka: A Lesson From English Teachers’ Voices. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(4), 1657–1672.
Lestari, N. B., Adia, A., Nirwana, P., & Mapgun, J. A. (2023). Portraying how a genre-based approach was employed by an EFL teacher under kurikulum merdeka. English Education & Applied Linguistics Journal, 6(3), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i4.11266
Lie, A., Mina Tamah, S., Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, U., Katarina Retno Triwidayati, I., Katolik Musi Charitas Palembang, U., Fransiskus Jemadi, I., & Santu Paulus Ruteng, S. (2019). Englis h Proficiency of Secondary School Teache rs in Indonesia (Vol. 7, Issue 2).
Malaikosa, C. A., & Taopan, L. L. (2020). Teaching English at junior high school in Indonesian rural area: The implementation of scientific approach. Lensa: Kajian Kebahasaan, Kesusastraan, Dan Budaya, 10(2), 206–217. https://doi.org/10.26714/lensa.10.2.2020.206-217
Malaikosa, C., & Sahayu, W. (2019). Teachers’ challenges on implementing EFL curriculum in Indonesian rural area. Journal of Foreign Language Education and Technology, 4(1).
Meldia, P., & Kardena, A. (2022). The The Teacher’s EFL Practice in Implementing ELT Curriculum. JADEs Journal of Academia in English Education, 3(1), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.32505/jades.v3i1.4269
Misbah, S., Waluyo, U., & Khotimah, K. (2020). “I FORGOT WHAT IT IS”: THE ENACTMENT OF 2013 CURRICULUM IN EFL CLASSROOM. Research and Innovation in Language Learning, 3(3), 234–252. https://doi.org/10.33603/rill.v3i3.4147
Mubarok, H., & Sofiana, N. (2022). An evaluation of English language teaching in Indonesian schools. KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v7i14.11947
Nadjib, N., & Triastuti, A. (2023). Indonesian EFL teachers’ portrayal of genre-based teaching practices: perceptions, implementation, and challenges. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 13(2), 475–498. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v13i2.6501
Ni’mah, F., Wafa, Z., & Sulistiyaningsih, E. F. (2024). The implementation of Merdeka Curriculum in English language teaching in high school. English Education and Literature Journal (E-Jou), 4(02), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.53863/ejou.v4i02.996
Nishanthi, R. (2018). The Importance of Learning English in Today World. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, Volume-3(Issue-1), 871–874. https://doi.org/10.31142/ijtsrd19061
Nugraha, I. S., & Suherdi, D. (2017). Scientific approach: an english learning-teaching (ELT) approach in the 2013 curriculum. Journal of English and Education, 5(2), 112–119.
Paramesthi, M., & Suwartono, T. (2023). Challenges and Strategies of English Language Teaching Within the Freedom-to-Learn Curriculum in Indonesia. Proceedings Series on Social Sciences & Humanities, 12, 502–509. https://doi.org/10.30595/pssh.v12i.839
Rahmawati, Y. (2019). Teachers’ Voices on the Challenges of the Implementation of Communicative Approach in Regards to the 2013 Curriculum. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 6(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.15408/ijee.v6i1.12761
Ratnaningsih, S. (2017). SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF 2013 CURRICULUM: TEACHERS’IMPLEMENTATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING. English Review: Journal of English Education, 6(1), 33–40.
Renandya, W. A., Hamied, F. A., & Nurkamto, J. (2018). English language proficiency in Indonesia: Issues and prospects. Journal of Asia TEFL, 15(3), 618–629. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2018.15.3.4.618
Ridwan, M. N., & Samanhudi, U. (2024). The Implementation of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Approach in Efl Classes; A Case Study on The Border Of Indonesia–Malaysia. EduInovasi: Journal of Basic Educational Studies, 4(2), 969–999. https://doi.org/10.47467/edu.v4i2.2635
Sari, A. A., & Fatmawati, N. L. (2023). The Implementation of Merdeka Curriculum in English Teaching Learning at The Seventh Grade of SMPIT Insan Mulia Surakarta in The Academic Year 2022/2023. UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta.
Setyaningrum, T. (2018). Teachers’ beliefs about Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and the implementation in classroom practices. Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora, 6(4), 152–161.
Shinta, I. C., & Tedjaatmadja, H. M. (2014). The Implementation of Communicative Language Teaching Approach in a Secondary School in Surabaya. Kata Kita: Journal of Language, Literature, and Teaching, 2(2), 41–45.
Souriyavongsa, T., Rany, S., Jafre Zainol Abidin, M., & Lai Mei, L. (2013). Factors Causes Students Low English Language Learning: A Case Study in the National University of Laos. International Journal of English Language Education, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.5296/ijele.v1i1.3100
Suparman, U., & Prakoso, G. H. (2024). Exploring high school English teachers’ perceptions of implementing scientific approach and their beliefs in English language teaching in Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 45(4), 1173–1184.
Suryani, H., & Amalia, S. (2018). Students’ English Proficiency: The Case of One Madrasah in Jambi City. Ta’dib: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 23(2), 194–201. https://doi.org/10.19109/td.v23i2.2566
Wahyudin, A. Y., & Sukyadi, D. (2015). A Closer Look at the Implementation of the Curriculum 2013 in Indonesia: Should the Scientific Approach Be Used in EFL Classroom? Rangsit Journal of Educational Studies, 2(2), 56–70.
Wirawan, F. (2020). A Study on the teaching media used by the English teacher at SMP Muhammadiyah 2 Malang. Jurnal Ilmiah Profesi Pendidikan, 5(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.29303/jipp.v5i2.115
Yabie, H. S., Husain, N., & Badu, H. (2021). The Implementation of 2013 Curriculum Learning Models based on English Teachers’ Experience at SMP Negeri 4 Gorontalo. Ideas: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Budaya, 7(4), 271–276.
Yulia, Y. (2013). Teaching challenges in Indonesia: Motivating students and teachers’ classroom language. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 3(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32884/ideas.v7i4.513
Zuhro, K., Nuriadi, ;, Amrullah, ;, Yuni, ;, & Lestari, B. (2023). Comparative Study of Post-Marriage Nationality Of Women in Legal Systems of Different Countries International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding Investigation of the English Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence in Implementing the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Public Junior High Schools in Praya West Nusa Tenggara. 10, 196–199. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v10i7.4871
Published
2025-07-08
How to Cite
EFENDI, Tri Achmad et al.
INSIGHTS INTO ELT CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION IN INDONESIA: CHALLENGES, TRENDS, AND IMPLICATIONS.
Jurnal IKA PGSD (Ikatan Alumni PGSD) UNARS, [S.l.], v. 16, n. 1, p. 90-105, july 2025.
ISSN 2656-4459.
Available at: <https://unars.ac.id/ojs/index.php/pgsdunars/article/view/6424>. Date accessed: 07 dec. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.36841/pgsdunars.v16i1.6424.
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Articles
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