Freedom and Control in EducationAutonomy and Accountability

Focus of International Discourse

R. GovindaNational University of Educational Planning and Administration

Freedom and ControlFocus of international discourse

Closely linked to the nature of school and its relationship with the providers

Changing Relationships and Varying Expectations

To begin with … The Community in Charge School : Created and maintained by

community School as a social contract between the

teacher and the community Essentially a local arrangement Teacher occupied the centre stage – granting

autonomy or keeping control was not a question

Socialisation of the youngsters and transmission of knowledge/skills the main concerns

And Then … The State Takes Over

School: Organized and funded by the modern (nation-) state

Part of public services Standardization of the Institutional

Arrangement Raise of the Education BureaucracyCitizenship training, strengthening of national

identity Schooling as the means of investing in human

capital for national development

And Now ….. The Emerging Framework

School: Organized and funded by the post-modern (globalized-) state

Market gains ground as the New Arbiter for School Provision School as an enterprise – a negotiated

instrument for ensuring the delivery of predetermined merit goods

Focus on providing individual choice and personal development

Local (national) concerns get jettisoned in favour of the global

Framework for Autonomy and Control - Contemporary Debates Autonomy from higher levels of

government Local or organizational autonomy

(autonomy inside the school) Consumer sovereignty (autonomy for

parents and students)

Autonomy from Higher Levels of Government The Application and Approval

Process Rule Exemptions Funding Reporting Requirements

Autonomy Inside the School School Governance School Personnel Budget School Admission Processes

Autonomy of Parents and Students Parental Choice Community Accountability

Autonomy and Accountability Framework

Teacher Professional Bodies

STATE

Main Provider

SMC/SGB

Parents/Community

Control/Manage

School Functioning

Management of ResourcesPersonnel Including

TEACHERS

Professional Development

Control/Manage

CurriculumNorms for School

Functioning

Support

FinancesProfessional Development

Facilities

Independent Agency for Performance Assessment of Schools and Teachers

Plan and Teach

Learning Material

Responsible for Learning

Achievement

Meet Professional Development

Needs

Control/Manage

Autonomy and Accountability – where is the focus in international discourse? Individual School is the basis for action – not the

system – focus is on strengthening each delivery point

Teacher Autonomy is embedded in school autonomy for management through SMC

Direct involvement of the State machinery – How much of it is desirable?

Evidence based planning and management coupled with transparency and accountability to the stakeholders is the new mantra

Autonomy and Accountability – where is the focus in international discourse? School Evaluation by independent

professional bodies for assessing school/teacher performance

Assessing teacher performance as part of school performance

External examination results take centre stage

Autonomy and Accountability – where is the focus in international discourse? Accountability to local masters is not

something many school authorities are familiar with

School head acquires a critical role as leader for management of school development

Requires a new framework of personnel selection and management – teachers have to belong to the school not the State system

Freedom and Control – Not a Black and White Issue Autonomy has to be designed innovatively to

accommodate freedom for action within the framework of a State managed not controlled system

Inducing public accountability demands a radical transformation of the organizational culture of the public education management system

Regulation is not going away – but it has to change hands – Confining Roles Political Leadership to Policy Making and Legislation Bureaucracy to Development Programming and Facilitation Professional Groups to Monitoring Implementation –

Admission, Recognition, Certification – Some aspects would be Self-Regulated