Potential and Obstacles in the Implementation of Independent Learning Practice During the Covid-19 Pandemic for Public Senior High School in Denpasar City

This article intends to examine the potential and obstacles to implementing the national education program for the practice of independent learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and its implications for students, the learning process in the classroom, and school institutions in SMA Negeri 3 and SMA 8 Denpasar. Nationally, the objective of this independent learning policy is to improve the quality of learning and the quality of graduates nationally by applying the principle of autonomy in school management based on the potential of the school concerned. Essentially, the practice of independent learning includes four main points, namely (1) replacing USBN into school exams; (2) replacement of the national exam into a minimum competency assessment and character survey; (3) implementation of 1 sheet of RPP; and (4) the application of zoning-based new student admissions. The data collection methods in this study were observation, in-depth interviews, and document studies. Data were analyzed using qualitative-interpretive methods.