Guidelines for Development of Desirable Characteristics of Students Based on Sikkha 3 in Educational Opportunity Expansion Schools Under Amnat Charoen Primary Educational Service Area Office

Abstract

        This Article article aimed to: (1) examine the current state of desirable characteristics among lower secondary school students; (2) compare these characteristics by gender, professional position, and work experience; and 3) propose guidelines for developing desirable characteristics based on the Threefold Training (Sikkhā 3) in educational opportunity expansion schools under the jurisdiction of the Amnatcharoen Primary Educational Service Area Office (APESAO).  This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative data were collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered using interviews with key informants from three groups: (1) school administrators, (2) teachers, and (3) school board members, totaling 169 participants from educational opportunity expansion schools under APESAO. The statistical methods used in data analysis included percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, and hypothesis testing using t-tests and F-tests. T-tests were applied to variables with two groups (e.g., gender), while F-tests were used for variables with more than two groups (e.g., age, position, work experience).The research results were found as follows;

1. The overall and domain-specific levels of desirable characteristics among lower secondary school students in educational opportunity expansion schools under APESAO were rated at a high level in all aspects.
2. The comparison of students' desirable characteristics, both overall and by specific aspects, showed no statistically significant differences across gender, position, or work experience.
3. The proposed guidelines for developing students’ desirable characteristics based on the Threefold Training consist of 8 domains and 19 practical strategies: (1) Patriotism, religious faith, and loyalty to the monarchy—promoting reverence for national institutions; (2) Honesty and integrity—cultivating moral consciousness; (3) Discipline—encouraging students to be attentive and determined in their studies; (4) Love of learning—using Active Learning and Cornell Notes techniques to enhance analytical thinking; (5) Self-sufficiency—developing balance in students’ lives through activities that instill a sense of sufficiency; (6) Perseverance in work—promoting responsibility, diligence, and readiness for professional life; (7) Appreciation of Thai identity—encouraging the preservation of Thai culture, wisdom, and pride in one's roots; and (8) Public-mindedness—fostering social responsibility and community awareness.