DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL WELFARE AT MAI SI MUEN TEMPLE OF DAMNOEN SADUAK DISTRICT IN RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were:  1. To examine the level of development of educational welfare of Wat Mai Si Muen, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province; 2. To compare the development of educational welfare of Wat Mai Si Muen classified by personal factors; and 3. To study the problems, obstacles, and recommendations for the development of educational welfare of Wat Mai Si Muen, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province, conducted by the  mixed-methods approach. Quantitative research used questionnaires to collect data from 262 people in the community of Wat Mai Si Muen, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and hypotheses were tested using F-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Qualitative research used in-depth interviews with 9 key informants, including monks and laypersons, and data were analyzed using  contextual content descriptive interpretation.

The research findings revealed that: 1. By overall, level of educational welfare development of Wat Mai Si Muen was at a high level, with a mean score of 3.59. When considered by aspect, the management of education as a school in accordance with the National Education Plan had the highest mean, followed by educational welfare support enabling children and the public to access education in institutions under the National Education Plan, while moral instruction for students in the formal school system had the lowest mean at a moderate level; 2. Comparison by personal factors showed that differences in gender, age, general education level, and income did not result in significant differences in practice levels, whereas differences in occupation resulted in statistically significant differences in practice levels at the 0.05 level; and 3. Major problems and obstacles included a lack of cooperation and insufficient support in terms of budget, educational personnel, and educational equipment relative to the continuously increasing number of youth. Recommendations emphasized that relevant agencies should collaborate to provide adequate and continuous support in terms of budget, educational personnel, and educational equipment.