Freedom and Control in Education Autonomy and Accountability Focus of International Discourse R. Govinda National University of Educational Planning and Administration

Freedom and Control Focus 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 Bureaucracy Citizenship 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 Resources Personnel Including TEACHERS Professional Development Control/Manage Curriculum Norms for School Functioning Support Finances Professional 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