THE INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OPERATION OF THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERSIN LAMPHUN PROVINCE UNDER THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the internal quality assurance operation and the problems of the Child Development Centers in Lamphun Province under the Local Administrative Organization and to propose guidelines for its operation. Samples of the study were altogether 41 persons of Religious and Culture, academic officers, chiefs of child development centers, teachers, and staff. Data collection was conducted by using questionnaires and interviews.

The results of this research found that:

1. The level of the internal quality assurance operation of the Child Development Centers in Lamphun Province under the Local Administrative Organization as a whole was high. When considering each aspect of internal assurance conduction, from the maximum to minimum average value, they were monitoring and auditing of educational quality, educational standard establishment, annual report conduction, education management operation by an education development plan, internal quality assessment, continuing educational quality development establishment, administrative and information system management and Institutional educational development plan towards Institutional quality education standard.
2. Problems with its internal quality assurance operation were found in the aspects of teachers and staff that they lacked knowledge and understanding of regulations, official documents of educational development plan conduction, and internal quality assurance process and operation. They had no experience and expertise in information technology and information system use and management. In addition, there was not enough budget to be allocated. In terms of knowledge sharing and operational reports dissseminating to the community, they had never existed. There were neither supportive of early childhood learning equipment and media nor further improvement operations after the internal quality assurance assessment result.
3. Guidelines for the internal quality assurance operation are as follows; an education quality development plan should be conducted, information technology utilization for data collection workshop should be held, having staff understand and work by standards and indicators, budget and resources had to be supported and internal assurance operation manual had to be prepared.