Dose-Dependent Association Between Pancasila Student Profile (P5) Curriculum Exposure and Civic Engagement Among Indonesian Secondary School Students

Abstract

Background. The Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5; Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project) is a defining component of Indonesia’s Kurikulum Merdeka, introduced in 2022. It aims to build civic values and participatory dispositions through project-based learning, yet large-scale quantitative evidence on its link to civic engagement is scarce.

Objective. This study evaluated the association between P5 exposure intensity and civic engagement among Indonesian secondary school adolescents, controlling for established sociodemographic confounders.

Methods. This cross-sectional study drew a stratified cluster sample of 312 students (Grades 10–12) from 18 secondary schools in five provinces. Civic engagement was measured with a 25-item instrument adapted from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) framework (Cronbach’s α = 0.83; composite 0–100; high engagement ≥ 65). School-level participation scores classified P5 exposure as high, moderate, or low. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of high engagement.

Results. Scores rose across exposure groups (low 49.1, moderate 61.0, high 72.3; ANOVA F(2,309) = 86.85, p < 0.001; η² = 0.36; Cohen’s d = 2.04 for high vs low). High P5 exposure was independently associated with higher odds of high civic engagement (adjusted OR = 17.12; 95% CI 3.82–76.74; p < 0.001), as was each unit of continuous participation (OR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.71–3.48; p < 0.001). Model fit was good (AUC = 0.82).

Conclusion. In this cross-sectional sample, higher P5 exposure was associated with stronger civic engagement in a graded pattern. The findings support longitudinal study of high-fidelity, equitable implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum.