Formative Assessment and Teacher Workload in Indonesian Primary Schools: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/jeda.v5i2.22Keywords:
Formative Assessment, Teacher Workload, Primary Education, Kurikulum MerdekaAbstract
Formative assessment has become increasingly important in Indonesian primary schools following the implementation of Kurikulum Merdeka, which emphasizes continuous assessment and student-centered learning. However, most previous studies focused on learning outcomes, while the impact on teachers’ workload remains limited. Therefore, this study examined the influence of formative assessment on teacher workload through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR).
This study applied a qualitative descriptive approach using the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Articles were collected from Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar between 2021 and 2026. After the screening process, 21 studies were selected for analysis.
The findings indicate that formative assessment increases teachers’ responsibilities in monitoring student progress, providing feedback, recording assessment results, and preparing reports. Digital and AI-assisted tools can improve efficiency, but challenges related to technological readiness, assessment literacy, and institutional support remain significant. Excessive assessment duties may also affect teachers’ well-being and teaching effectiveness.
References
Arsely, M., Satria, I., & Saputra, A. (2024). Implementing the independent curriculum in Indonesian language learning: A qualitative case study of fourth-grade students in Bengkulu primary school. JPI: Jurnal Pustaka Indonesia,4(1), 1–8. https://siducat.org/index.php/jpi/article/view/1264
Asghair, M. (2025). Enhancing learning through continuous assessment: Teacher perspectives on motivation and engagement in Libyan preparatory schools. Faculty of Arts Journal, 77–88. https://bit.ly/4ne2rhN
Brozmanová, M., Kasáčová, B., Babiaková, S., & Matiašková, P. (2024). Subjectively perceived teacher burden associated with the assessment of students in primary education. In ICERI2024 Proceedings (pp. 6320–6328). IATED Academy. https://library.iated.org/view/BROZMANOVA2024SUB
Chen, G., & Yi, P. (2026). A literature review of formative assessment in English education. Journal of Humanities and Education Development, 8(2), 11–15. https://doi.org/10.22161/jhed.8.2.2
Chihodzi, B., Mwakapenda, W., & Ngulube, B. (2023). Ticks and crosses in primary mathematics assessments: What purpose do they serve? Pythagoras, 44(1), 1–13. https://pythagoras.org.za/index.php/pythagoras/article/view/647/1086
Clifton, G. J. (2023). Language assessment literacy and formative assessment in Indonesian EFL education: A study of assessment policy, teaching materials, and teacher practices under Kurikulum Merdeka (Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, Baltimore County). https://www.proquest.com/
Francotte, E., Colognesi, S., & Coertjens, L. (2023). Co-creating tools to monitor first graders’ progress in reading: A balancing act between perceived usefulness, flexibility, and workload. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1111420. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1111420
Ginola, D., & Amarulloh, A. (2025). Merit and demerit of generative text AI for Indonesian teachers’ administration load: Primary teachers’ perspective. Journal on Smart Learning Technologies, 1(1), 39–56. https://journal.unesa.ac.id/index.php/jslt/article/view/42723
Hunter, J., & Nguyen, B. (2024). Forever feeling guilty: How ineffective curriculum planning approaches can exacerbate teacher workload and undermine professional satisfaction. Curriculum Perspectives, 44(4), 573–577. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41297-024-00281-8
Ilma, A., & Rohmah, Z. (2025). AI in EFL education: Teachers’ competence and the roadblocks to teaching material development. Cogent Education, 12(1), Article 2588471. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2588471
Kamrozzaman, N. A., & Mohan, T. (2025). Challenges and adaptations: A case study of teacher experiences with blended learning after the pandemic. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(10). https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/view/challenges-and-adaptations-a-case-study-of-teacher-experiences-with-blended-learning-after-the-pandemic
Khan, A., Hassan, N., & Cheng, L. (2025). Investigating the contextual factors mediating washback effects of a learning-oriented English language assessment in Malaysia. Language Testing in Asia, 15(1), 20. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40468-025-00359-8
Mones, A. Y., & Amaral, C. R. (2025). Teacher performance and multitasking challenges in Indonesia. International Journal of Elementary Education, 9(4), 631–640. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/IJEE/article/view/99727
Moran, R. R. P., & Medina, M. P. L. (2026). Exploring formative feedback in virtual primary education: Towards a conceptual structure. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 18(3), 349–360. https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE
Morris, R., Gorard, S., See, B. H., & Siddiqui, N. (2024). Can a code-based approach to marking and feedback reduce teachers’ workload? An evaluation of the FLASH marking intervention. Oxford Review of Education, 50(4), 552–569. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03054985.2023.2258779
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. PLOS Medicine, 18(3), Article e1003583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003583
Rochaminah, S., Ismaimuza, D., & Lefrida, R. (2026). Teachers’ perspectives on problem posing assessment: A needs analysis for evaluating conceptual understanding in mathematics. Journal of Curriculum Studies Research, 8(1), 83–105. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcsr.2026.5
Selemani-Mbewe, C. M. (2023). Developing a strategic pedagogy in primary teacher education for effective continuous assessment implementation in Malawi (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria). https://repository.up.ac.za/items/b72cd33a-6b48-4e22-9671-b9c4f2000ea1
Senduk, F. F. W. (2025). Design-centered professional development for digital, outcome-aligned classroom assessment in Tomohon primary schools. DEVOTIONIS, 58–68. https://iiesecore.com/ojs/index.php/devotionis/article/download/150/102
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Song, Y., & Mukundan, J. (2025). The influence of humanistic education on tertiary English teachers’ writing assessment practices: A systematic review. Frontiers in Education, 10, Article 1605368. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1605368
Tadesse, H. (2026). Managing overcrowded science classrooms in Addis Ababa: A phenomenological study of teachers’ challenges and coping strategies. Education and Urban Society. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00131245261424915
Zainab, G., Raza, M., & Raza, A. (2025). Impact of school-based assessment on teaching practices and student achievement in public sector elementary schools of District Khushab. ASSAJ, 4(2), 1586–1602. https://assajournal.com/index.php/36/article/view/1042


























