Participatory Management of Educational Institutions Based on the Four Sangaha-vatthu Principles

Abstract

This academic article aims to examine the participatory management of school administrators based on the principles of Sangaha-vatthu and to synthesize a management framework that integrates Buddhist principles with the concept of participatory management. The study employed documentary research by reviewing the Tripitaka, academic books, scholarly articles, research studies, and other relevant documents. The collected data were analyzed through content analysis and synthesized according to key issues concerning participatory management, the principles of Sangaha-vatthu, and their application in educational administration. The findings indicate that participatory management becomes more effective when the four principles of Sangaha-vatthu—Dāna (generosity), Piyavācā (kind speech), Atthacariyā (beneficial conduct), and Samānattatā (impartiality and equality)—are integrated into every stage of stakeholder participation, including information sharing, idea proposing, participatory decision-making, collaborative implementation, and joint monitoring and evaluation. Such integration fosters trust, collaboration, shared responsibility, and the sustainable development of school management. Furthermore, this article proposes a new conceptual framework entitled the 4S–5P Participatory Management Model, which explains the systematic relationship between the ethical foundation of Sangaha-vatthu and the participatory management process. The proposed framework extends the conventional concept of participatory management by moving beyond organizational structures and administrative procedures to incorporate ethical values, moral leadership, and the quality of interpersonal relationships in educational administration.