Decentralization in Education from Policy to Practice: a Comparative Study of Educational Institutions Supervised by Local Administrations in Thailand and South Korea

Abstract

     This research is the second phase of the research project on “Educational Administration and Management under the Concept of Decentralization: the Comparative Study of Local Administration Organizations in Thailand and South Korea”. The project aims to conduct a comparative study addressing school administration and management of local administrations in Thailand and South Korea. The research uses the framework of School Based Management (SBM), covering academic affairs, personnel management, budget management, and general administration. The data is gathered from documentary research, field work, and interviews. This research finds that local administrations of Thailand and South Korea have different features and obstacles in regard to school administration and management. For Thailand, in practice, schools organized by local administrations lack full authority in educational administration and management. There is greater independence in management of academic affairs than in the other three operational aspects. For South Korea, schools are transferred authority for educational administration and management from the center. Schools can manage their own academic affairs, budget, human resources, and general administration independently. For example, schools have independence in selecting content in the school curriculum, applying educational technology, and making decisions on personnel management under a School Management Committee (SMC).