Education is a gradual process through which individuals acquire general knowledge; skills and information from the teachers that would enable them develop powers of reasoning and judgment in their everyday experiences. It is integral to preparation for and legitimization of particular forms of social life that is closely linked to individual responsibility and economic wellbeing. It contributes to realization of a variety of different human capacities, encourages development of competencies, capabilities and expands meaning of what is to be human. In this case education should be an empowering process that will enable one to attain a rightful status to claim economic, social and political and cultural spheres as well as being able to fully participate in the community. However, for this to be realized the role of the teacher cannot be overlooked as she/he is the main contributor to student learning making their outcome to be widely recognized. The teacher effectiveness has a lot of impact on the student learning. For one to be able to meaningfully transmit knowledge, skills and right attitude continuous learning, relearning and unlearning is necessary. In the present time, myriad changes calls for any individual to adapt and adopt to changing needs and circumstances in the society making an education process an important cycle where knowledge and skills and right attitudes are transmitted especially in this 21 st century. Among many other issues globalization has attracted and brought about ever changing dynamics in the modern world which have posed challenges in all fields including the emergence of technological innovations such as information technology that has made our world economy to be interconnected in a small global village. The experience has either opened up the world to favorable international relations or posed a challenge that has called for the need for constant continued updates of knowledge. Notwithstanding the demands of the present employers either in business world, government institutions, community or non-governmental organizations who demand the formation of a new type of professionals, ones who are capable of dealing with the unexpected and the complex situations. Not ignoring is the changing demographic fabric of our communities which has brought us into daily contact with people from around the globe via IT systems such as e-mails, fax, social media among others either in business connections and academia among others. The questions that are likely to be posed are: Are our educators empowered with the right knowledge, skills and attitudes to either facilitate or contribute to this reality? Are our administrators and teachers adequately prepared with updated knowledge, skills and positive attitude? Do schools have adequate instructional resources to making learning manageable? Are there organized frequent professional development courses that empower the teachers with new knowledge and skills to face these tasks? The answers of the above depend on whether educators are constantly empowered with the knowledge and skills.
Therefore, teacher empowerment needs to be performed in order to increase knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to support their noble responsibility as the main contributor to studentsí learning process REF .
Teacher Empowerment in Education Practice: Strategies, Constraints and Suggestions
IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education
Psychology