Participatory Process in the Management of the Elderly School: A Case Study of Wang Mai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Na Yai Am District, Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

This research article aimed to study the process of participation in the management of the elderly school: a case study of Wang Mai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Na Yai Am District, Chanthaburi Province. This research was qualitative research by collecting relevant data, including a survey of primary and secondary documents, interviewing those involved in the management process of the elderly school, namely local and area leaders, community leaders, and elderly groups who have participated in the establishment of the elderly school since 2014. The data collection was divided into 2 parts: relevant documents and interviews with those involved in the school management. The results of the study found that the process of participation in the management of the elderly school consisted of 1) participation in finding problems in the management of the elderly school by inviting retired teachers, farmers, and local scholars who were members of the elderly group to participate. It was a project driven from the grassroots level, 2) in terms of participation in the planning stage, the objectives, methods and guidelines for implementation were determined and jointly implemented by retired teachers to draft the curriculum and organize appropriate activities, 3) participation in the project implementation process was teaching management, role switching from student to teacher, especially in subjects related to knowledge and skills of each elderly person, and other agencies such as the military, police, educational institutions, public health, participating in activities in the elderly school, such as in the public health case, providing advice on basic self-care, checking blood pressure, etc.,  and 4) participation in project evaluation through joint meetings found that after the school opened, there were elderly people who had completed the course but were still attached to their classmates, “Graduated but still not finished”, “depressive symptoms were relieved”, causing Wang Mai Subdistrict Administrative Organization to adjust the curriculum to be a lifelong learning curriculum, creating a career, generating income, creating attachment and the elderly feeling proud of themselves.