RESEARCH METHOD Â
The research object can be stated as a research social situation that wants to know what happens in it. In this research object, researchers can observe in depth the activities (Activity) of people (Actors) in a particular place (Place) (Sugiyono, 2014: 49). This research was conducted. By taking the school at MTS Al-Kautsar, Bencah Lesung District, Sail Village, Pekanbaru Riau. This research uses qualitative methods. Qualitative research methods are research methods used to cover the conditions of natural objects, where researchers are key instruments, data collection techniques are tringulated (combined, data analysis is inductive, and qualitative research results emphasize meaning rather than generalization (Sugiyono, 2014: 1).
In this study, the focus of research is: What are the problems faced by teachers in implementing the Merdeka curriculum. Research informants are people who are used to provide information. The informants in this study are teachers in schools that implement the Merdeka curriculum itself. as for the informants in each school are 5 teachers. The data source is the subject from which the data is obtained, as for the Data Source seen from the data source can use Primary and Secondary Sources. To collect data, a qualitative data collection method will be used. The data collection methods used in this study include: Observation Nasution in Sugiyono (2014: 64) states that observation is the basis of all science. Scientists can only work based on data, namely facts about the world of reality obtained through observation. Meanwhile, Riduwan (2004: 104) says that observation is a data collection technique, where the researcher makes direct observations of the research object to see up close the activities being carried out. In this case, the researcher observes the teachers who carry out learning using the Merdeka curriculum at MTS Al-Kautsar, Bencah Lesung District, Sail Village, Pekanbaru Riau.
Interview is a way of collecting information material that is carried out by oral question and answer unilaterally face to face, and with predetermined directions and objectives. Esterberg (2002) in Sugiyono (2014: 72) Data Analysis Techniques, data analysis in qualitative research is carried out during data collection, and after completion of data collection within a certain period. According to Miles and Huberman in Sugiyono (2014: 91), activities in qualitative analysis are carried out interactively and take place continuously until completion, namely data reduction, data display, and verification and confirmation of conclusions.
Description of Research Object
This research took place in Bencah Lesung District, Sail Village, Pekanbaru Riau. Bencah Lesung District is one of the areas where every public school implements the Merdeka curriculum, including MTS Al-Kautsar.
General Description of Research Subjects
The subjects in the research on teacher problems in implementing the Merdeka curriculum at MTS Al-Kautsar, Bencah Lesung Subdistrict, Sail Village, Pekanbaru Riau are teachers at MTS Al-Kautsar school who implement the Merdeka curriculum itself, totaling 61 people (teachers).
Interview
Interview questions about the problems of the independent curriculum:
1.how do you respond to the introduction of the Independent Curriculum at this educational institution?
