Pendidikan Meritokrasi: Prinsip Peningkatan Kualitas Sistem Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam

Abstract

This study explores the principle of meritocracy as a foundational strategy for enhancing the quality of learning systems within Islamic religious education. Meritocracy, understood as the selection and promotion of individuals based on ability and performance rather than ascription or privilege, is positioned here as a transformative principle that can elevate the efficacy of teaching and learning processes in the context of Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI). The research identifies key dimensions of meritocratic implementation such as objective performance assessment, aligned rewards and supports, and transparent advancement pathways and examines how these may be integrated into the educational ecosystem of PAI. It argues that when teachers are selected and developed on meritocratic grounds, curricula are adapted to support active and student‑centred learning, and learners are encouraged and assessed through competencies, the overall quality of the learning system improves. The study further contends that applying meritocratic principles in PAI can address existing challenges such as unequal access, passive learning habits, and mismatches between learning outcomes and spiritual‑moral goals by fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. The paper concludes by proposing a model for embedding meritocracy in Islamic religious education, featuring professional development, performance‑based teacher appraisal, student competence tracking, and feedback loops for system refinement. It also underscores the need for balancing merit‑based mechanisms with Islamic ethical values to ensure that meritocracy in PAI remains holistic, equitable, and aligned with the broader aims of character‑formation and spiritual growth