Guidelines for the main school to prepare themselves to be ready for merger with the small sized schools under the supervision of krabi education service area office

Abstract

The objectives of the research were to study the current administrative performance of the main schools, to collect problems in merging the main schools with the small sized schools, and to propose guidelines for the preparation of the main schools in merging with the small sized schools. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample group consisted of two groups: 1) 123 teachers from the main schools, and questionnaires were used to collect data; 2) 6 experts were given an in-depth interview. The statistics employed to analyse the collected data included frequency, means, S.D., and content analysis.    

The results of the study revealed that:

1. The level of administrative management of the main schools based on the teachers’ opinions was found to be very high.  The area of management which was ranked the highest was general administration, followed by budget administration, and personnel administration. The area of management which was ranked the lowest was academic administration.

2. The problems found for the merging of the two types of schools were that their educational systems were different in many areas including curriculum and budget. Therefore, the main schools must focus on the benefits for the students from the small sized schools rather than on their own interests.

3.  Suggestions for the preparation of the main schools were as follows:  3.1)  The main schools must assess themselves whether they are ready to assist the small sized schools before joining the merging program; 3.2) The main schools must study and have information about the small sized schools; 3.3)  The main schools should inform their personnel about the merging program and listen to their opinions; 3.4)  The main schools should organize a meeting for the personnel of both schools in order to understand the policy of the merging program and provide them with knowledge and information about the guidelines in merging the two types of schools; 3.5)  The main schools and the small sized schools should join together in order to plan the administrative management after merging; 3.6)  Experts and academics should be invited to guide the schools and their personnel in preparing the operation after merging; 3.7)  Activities between the two types of schools should be regularly organized to enhance the good relationship; 3.8)  The main schools should take their personnel to visit the schools which had been successfully merged; 3.9)  The main schools should provide opportunities for the community of both schools to participate before and after merging; 3.10)  The main schools should prepare sufficient buildings and materials for the teachers and students of the small sized schools; 3.11)  The main schools must be responsible for the evaluation and follow-up of this program.