IDENTIFYING FACTORS AND PRINCIPLES THAT SHAPE THE PAI CURRICULUM: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRENT CURRICULUM DESIGN

Abstract

The success of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) as the moral and spiritual foundation o future generations depends heavily on the harmonious synergy between the theoretical basis and practical implementation of the curriculum. This report aims to comprehensively identify the contextual factors and normative principles underlying the design of the PAI Curriculum, as well as to critically analyze the implementation and challenges faced in the design of the current PAI curriculum, particularly in the context of the Merdeka Curriculum in Indonesia. This study uses critical literature review and document analysis methods, The results of the analysis show that the ideal PAI curriculum design faces the dilemma of integrating strong philosophical-theological values with the pragmatic demands of Science and Technology (IPTEK) and the need for 21st-century skills. Although the principle of flexibility has been explicitly institutionalized in the Merdeka Curriculum to achieve relevance and balance, its implementation is hampered by the readiness and competence of PAI teachers as key human resources. The gap between the ideal design and the reality of implementation threatens the realization of the principle of holistic balance (cognitive, affective, psychomotor). Based on these findings, it is recommended that Islamic Education teachers undergo pedagogical transformation through continuous capacity building and innovative resource management strategies to achieve an adaptive, contextual, and high-quality Islamic Education curriculum.