MGMP-Supported HOTS Instructional Transformation among Rural EFL Teachers

Abstract

The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum encourages English teachers to apply Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in their teaching practices so that students can think critically, communicate effectively, and actively participate in the learning process. However, many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in rural areas are not yet prepared to design student-centered, HOTS-oriented lessons due to limited facilities, students’ English proficiency, and school readiness. This study specifically focuses on the influence of the Subject Teachers' Professional Development Group/Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) in fostering the transformation of five EFL teachers in rural areas, with a focus on how HOTS-oriented teaching is implemented. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews, teaching modules, MGMP materials, and the Tes Kendali Mutu (TKM) Summative Test through thematic analysis. The results indicate that MGMP facilitates a paradigm shift among teachers from centered, lower-order thinking practices to student-centered instruction incorporating HOTS. The research results also show that, despite facing the complexities of teacher readiness and other challenges in their respective classrooms, teachers have become increasingly competent in HOTS pedagogy and more confident in designing HOTS activities. These results indicate that MGMP can function as a collaborative professional learning community that supports the transformation of teachers’ instruction, thereby potentially contributing to teacher professional development programs in rural EFL contexts that focus on HOTS-oriented teaching.