Management of Child Development Centers in the Covid-19 Situation: a Case Study of Nong Ruea Subdistrict Municipality, Non Sang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were 1) to study the role of Nong Ruea Subdistrict Municipality in the management of child development centers in the Covid-19 situation; 2) to study the problems of management of child development centers in the Covid-19 situation of Nong Ruea Subdistrict Municipality; and 3) to study the guidelines for developing the management of child development centers in the Covid-19 situation of Nong Ruea Subdistrict Municipality, Non Sang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province. The researcher used a case study methodology. Data were collected from 7 key informants by in-depth interviews, which comprising 2 administrators of  local administrative organizations, 2 chiefs of government agencies, and 3 personnel from the Education Division. Data were analyzed using a content analysis.
          The results of this study indicated as follows:
          1) The role of Nongrue Subdistrict Municipality, Non Sang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province in managing child development centers during Covid-19 situation. It was found that the agency played an important role in operational planning, budget using, human resources management and child development center management. Emphasis was placed on participatory management among government agency administrators, chief of government agency, teachers, children caregivers, child development center committee, parents, and communities.
          2) Problems of child development centers during Covid-19 situation of Nongrue Subdistrict Municipality, Non Sang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province were a lack of Chief of Division of Education and being unable to manage projects and activities of child development centers to be compliant with the operational plans due to preventive measures for the spread of Covid-19 and social distancing.
          3) The guidelines for developing and managing child development centers during Covid-19 situation of Nongrue Subdistrict Municipality, Non Sang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province found it is required to allocate a budget to provide sufficient preventive equipment for preventing the spread of Covid-19 to child development centers, to promote and develop skills for teachers, caregivers, to modify learning activity management models that shall meet early childhood development during Covid-19 situation, including publicizing news and information to parents to ensure the development of child development centers shall reach the maximum efficiency.