Agency without self-efficacy resembles aimlessness. A learner with options but lacking skills or confidence may disengage. Self-efficacy without agency becomes obedience. Learners follow others’ plans but don’t lead their own. Empowerment emerges when people are free and able to make meaningful decisions, reflect on progress, and adapt with purpose.
Too often, schools fall short on both. What is presented as “alternatives” or “choices” becomes a set of false selections, based on shallow decisions such as electives, paint colors, or seating arrangements, while competence is measured through high-stakes tests. Learners navigate a system that respects neither autonomy nor confidence. To change this, learning environments must support both freedom and growth.