Sarmila Pokhrel

Perceptions and Practices of Teachers to Promote Learner Autonomy in School Education of Nepal Sarmila Pokhrel

To promote culture based learner autonomy in school education of Nepal is inevitable at present. This study conveys a meaningful initiation of learner autonomy from the side of the professional teachers by exploring their perceptions and practices based on their living experiences with an aim to promote learner autonomy in school education of Nepal. It depicts the clear picture of teachers schooling, their learning culture, learning interest and its reflection in the real classroom context. It disseminates information regarding context based post method pedagogy and enables teachers to apply in the classroom scenario. Also, it can be a valuable souvenir to the readers as it incorporates the experiences of Nepalese teachers who belong to diverse caste, cultures, gender, geography, religion through the letter writing and poetic genres. This study is based on interpretive inquiry that presents the picture of teachers' perceptions on learner autonomy, their practices and its promotion in the real classroom context of school education. The scarcity of autonomy friendly facilities, and learning environment hinders the concept of learning culture: 'teach to learn and learn to teach'. Teaching by learning culture is a familiar schema in modern education system of Nepal. It relays on the professionalism of the teachers to promote autonomy friendly environment in school. Teachers self motivation, teaching learning culture, personal interest, their dedication and professionalism are considered crucial components to promote learner autonomy in Nepalese cultural context. This study facilitates the constructive practitioners who are dedicated to practice learner autonomy to their own cultural context and address learners needs. It provides context based teaching pedagogy to the innovative teachers. It requires the ability of the teachers to assimilate local cosmology with the global and apply learner friendly post method pedagogies to ensure learner autonomy. With the insights of the classroom practitioners and their lived experiences, it ventures the value of culture for autonomous learning.