EFL Teachers’ Perception on Students’ Learner Autonomy in the Implementation of Merdeka Belajar Curriculum

Learner autonomy is essential in encouraging the students become responsible for their own learning. However, teacher’s roles is still crucial to introduce the students to the concept of autonomous learning as well as to promote strategies to foster learner autonomy. Merdeka Belajar curriculum provides concepts that are in line with learner autonomy. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a study of learner autonomy as perceived and experienced by EFL teachers in Merdeka Belajar Curriculum. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teachers’ perceptions of the concept of learner autonomy and to find out the strategies used by the EFL teacher to foster learner autonomy. This qualitative study was conducted in senior high school in Surakarta and its surroundings that used Merdeka Belajar Curriculum. The data in this study were collected through questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The teachers pointed out that students should be involved in decisions about their learning. Furthermore, teachers perceive quite/very desirable to involve students in several decisions dealing with teaching and learning process. The result of this study show that the teachers’ perceptions of learner autonomy are positive. It is proved that the teachers offer strategies in order to promote students’ learner autonomy.