Merging Schools: An Option to Improve Learning Equity and Opportunities in Thailand

Abstract

The education reform led by the Ministry of Education, in the recent years, has focused on improving the quality of education and opportunity to learn for all children and youth. With the recognition to remove learning obstacles, the action survey has been conducted, and the report indicated that the large-scale of small schools in Thailand is one of the challenges face quality of education in Thailand. The latest indicators revealed that number of students in schools have dropped sharply from 814.84 students per schools to 721.30 students per schools. The shrinking number of students in schools becomes a big problem of Thai education. In general, most of small and medium-sized schools do not have enough budget to manage quality education. The key complications of Thai education and learning can be described as follows: 1) Teachers management: Inadequate number of teachers assigned per school cause inequity in education. Schools with less than 140 students can have only 7 teachers to teach in all subjects. The lack of quality teachers has the domino effect to quality learning opportunities. 2) Too many hours of learning: It is important for students to be nurtured both with academic subjects and living skills. Many students, according to the survey, revealed that their learning hour has been disrupted by classroom lecture. Theoretically speaking, Standford’s study has shown that the proper time for effective learning is about 8.6 hours every day.  It is important for students to spend time or socialise with their classmates to improve their cognitive both as an intellectual and life skills for living, and 3) Economies of Scale: The bigger, the better…we cannot deny that the fragmented management of schools cannot yield the best result in education and learning. Many small schools are lack of important elements to achieve best education. As a result, merging small school, in the same area, is one of the good solutions to improve quality of learning in our nation. Many activities can be conducted to improve school facilities, learning media, and content. In sum, the Ministry of Education of Thailand believes that effective and productive members of the society is essential for sustainable growth and development. Therefore, school’s merger is one of the best ways to manage resource efficiently. This would allow excellence classroom to be built and learners to be equipped with essential skills that would eventually enables upward socioeconomic mobility and escape poverty in a long run.