A STUDY OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION MANAGEMENT MODELS: A CASE STUDY OF A MEDIUM-SIZED SCHOOL

Abstract

This study aimed to: (1) examine the current state of education management, (2) identify challenges and obstacles in the implementation of inclusive education, and (3) explore perspectives and recommendations for inclusive education management. The participants included one school administrator and 13 teachers from Ban Tha Thung Na School in Kanchanaburi Province, under the Office of the Basic Education Commission, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected from November 2024 to January 2025 using interview protocols with content validity indices of 0.67-1.00. Data were analyzed using content analysis, frequency, and percentage. The findings revealed that: 1) Ban Tha Thung Na School offered education from kindergarten to Grade 6, where Thai students learned alongside ethnic minority students. The administration actively promoted inclusive education by equipping teachers with knowledge and skills for teaching students with special needs. Regular students, ethnic minority students, and students with special needs were taught together in the same classrooms with appropriate activities and behavioral observations to plan support. 2) Several challenges were identified, including students' use of local dialects at home, causing reluctance to speak or participate in class, which led to slower learning and lower academic achievement. Teachers lacked sufficient knowledge about types of special needs students and experience in screening tools, employing the same teaching methods as for regular students. Some parents faced migration challenges, were unable to communicate in Thai, and did not acknowledge their children's special educational needs. 3) Both administrators and teachers supported inclusive education. Administrators emphasized the need for professional development training to enhance teaching skills for inclusive settings. Teachers indicated needs for knowledge regarding screening, diagnosis, assessment, individualized instruction, teaching techniques, and selection and development of teaching materials.