Management Strategies for Small-sized Primary Schools to Achieve Excellence under Office of the Basic Education Commission in the Lower Northeastern Region 1

Abstract

The objectives of this research were threefold: firstly, to examine the problem conditions and guidelines for managing small-sized primary schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission in the Lower Northeast Region 1; secondly, to formulate a management strategy aimed at achieving excellence in these small-sized primary schools; and thirdly, to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this management strategy. The research comprised three steps: Step 1 involved studying the problem conditions and guidelines for managing small-sized primary schools, with a sample group of 320 school administrators or teachers acting as administrators, utilizing a 5-point rating scale questionnaire with an Index of Consistency (IOC) score range from 0.80 to 1.00 and a reliability coefficient of 0.92, and data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Additionally, four informants were purposively selected to study the guidelines for management, employing a semi-structured interview method, and data were analyzed through content analysis. Step 2 entailed crafting a management strategy for small-sized primary schools to achieve excellence, achieved through drafting strategies during discussion group meetings involving seven experts to assess the suitability of the draft strategies. Finally, in Step 3, the feasibility and utility of the strategies were evaluated by 60 qualified administrators or academic head teachers using a 5-point rating scale questionnaire, and data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation.

The research findings indicated: 1) The mean score for the problem conditions and guidelines regarding management of small-sized primary schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission was at a medium level, with emphasis placed on the participation of all stakeholders in developmental guidelines. 2) The management strategies for achieving excellence in small-sized primary schools comprised three main strategies: (1) Developing administrators and teachers to be professionals, (2) Strengthening the participatory management system with parents and communities, and (3) Enhancing the learning management system by prioritizing effective learner-focused approaches. 3) The feasibility and utility of these management strategies were rated at a high level under the Office of the Basic Education Commission.