Teacher's Autonomy and Professional Independence:
Teacher autonomy is essential for ensuring a learning environment that addresses children’s diverse needs. As much as the learner requires space, freedom, flexibility, and respect, the teacher also requires the same. Currently, the system of administrative hierarchies and control, examinations, and centralised planning for curriculum reform, all constrain the autonomy of the headmaster and teacher. Even when there is curricular freedom, teachers do not feel confident that they can exercise it without being taken to task by the administration for doing things differently. It is therefore essential to enable and support them in exercising choice. As much as the classroom needs to nurture a democratic, flexible and accepting culture, so also the school institution and the bureaucratic structure need to do the same. Not only should the teacher receive orders and information, but equally the voice of the teacher should be heard by those higher up, who often take decisions that affect the immediate classroom life and culture in the school. Relationships between teachers and their heads and principals must be informed by equality and mutual respect, and decision making must be on the basis of dialogue and discussion. The annual, monthly and weekly calendars of activities need to provide time for such staff interactions for reviewing and planing. There is a need to encourage an atmosphere that facilitates collaborative efforts among teachers. There must also be mechanisms for conflict resolution.
Often technologies such as radio and TV are introduced into their classrooms without consulting teachers on whether they would like to have these and what they would like these to do for them. Once these there in the classroom, teachers are expected to use them, when they have no control over what will be delivered, or how it will integrate with their own teaching plans.
