An Educational Management of Alternative Schools in Northeastern Thailand: Multi-cases Study

AbstractThe aim of this research is to study situations thus propose guidelines of educational management of alternative schools in Northeastern Thailand. Research samples included two alternative schools as a multi-cases study. Instruments comprised of a semi-structured interview questions, observation note and participatory and non-participatory observation record. Triangulation technique is used for reliability verification and validity of data before analyzing it by content analysis method. Finally, data is summarized by applying descriptive approach. The results revealed that the situations of educational management as such: (i) the policies and goals are determined to focus on the vision of moral, ethic, knowledge and life skills, right and freedom of education, being happy, forming a justice community, loving a local community. Instructional management emphasized on an integrated and flexible curriculum, student-centered instruction, helping students to solve their problems, participation of community and multi-disciplinary sectors and developing the potential of teachers and administrators using contemplative concept; (ii) policies and goals are driven by focusing on participatory networks of parents and multi-disciplinary sectors in order to provide lifelong education management and student development; (iii) learning management activity pattern are focusing on contemplative concept application, informal education, critical thinking activities with parent and community and psychological and life skills development program. In addition, the proposed guidelines are schools are encouraged to accept fully qualified students, alternative education should be managed concurrently with the regular system and all the related sectors should participate in management