Which of the following best describes the role of the teacher in progressive…

Progressive education, drawing on theorists such as John Dewey, positions the teacher as a facilitator of learning rather than a transmitter of fixed information. In this model, the teacher builds a rich, materials-based environment for children to explore and experiment, and provides scaffolding — timely guidance and support — that helps learners construct their own understanding, instead of dictating content or enforcing rigid procedures.

Applying this principle here: the teacher who provides diverse materials for children to experiment with, and offers scaffolding as and when required, is enacting exactly this facilitator role — supporting inquiry and experimentation while staying actively involved in guiding the process.

The remaining options describe roles progressive education specifically moves away from:

• Positioning the teacher as the primary source of knowledge and classroom authority describes a traditional, teacher-centred model — the opposite of the child-centred progressive approach.

• Requiring strict adherence to curriculum standards reflects a rigid, syllabus-bound stance rather than the flexible, exploratory orientation progressive education promotes.

• Leaving children to learn entirely on their own, with no teacher interference, removes the active scaffolding a facilitator provides — progressive education still calls for purposeful guidance, not complete non-involvement.

This matches the CTET (January 2024, Paper II) official answer key, which confirms this option as correct.