An Analysis of the Educational and Social Policy of Government towards Thai Eastern Region and Eastern Sea Board Area's Development During B.E. 2475-2535
Abstract:
The Eastern Region of Thailand consist of eight provinces, namely Nakornnayok. Chachoengsao, Chonburi,Rayong, Chantaburi, Trad, Prachinburi and Sakhaew. It covers and area of 36,503 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 4 million peple. Most of the inhabitants are Buddhists, but the Muslim population comprises the second largest religious group and is second only to the Southern Region for total number of Muslims. The Eastern Region has been organized as Educational Zone 12 since B.E. 2500 and Chonburi is the center of the region. This area is important because of its seaport, because it is a buffer area between Thailand and neighbouring countries. because of its prominance in national security and interest and because it is a beautiful area for tourists. The economy of this region is more developed than other regions. The major problems of the region are the rapid urbanization, pollution, the destruction of national resources and the effects of political conflicts in neighbouring countries. A historical analysis of educational and social policy of the Thai government revealed that there was a fundamental policy of social and educational development for the provinces as a part of national development since before the political change in B.E. 2547. After that, the government announced the policy for upgrading the quality of life in the provinces following the constitutional stipulation. During the World War II, many schools in Bangkok were moved to the Eastern Region in order to avoid the aerial attacks and this region was later selected as a location for adaptation and development of education under the cooperative project of international organization. Since B.E.2493,educational institutions in this area were set up especially for these projects and then the projects were expanded to the other regions of the country. After the National Economics and Social Plan was put to use in B.E. 2504, the policy of the Thai government toward the Eastern Region has been more clear cut. When oil and natural gas were discovered in the Gulf of Thailand in B.E.2524, the three provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong was targeted by the government to be a new industrial development zone of the country. Since then,education in the Eastern Region has been developed as an instrument for upgrading manpower and expanding industry. Problems with this developmental policy include its impact on the development region in coordination between region and metropolitan area, social problem,pollution in the region and the imballance of human resources in liberal arts, social sciences, sciences and technologies created by urgent policy. These problems, developed because the government of some periods enforce the policy without consideration of the geographical. historical, political, economical, social and cultural conditions of the region. The government, therefore, regularly evaluates the results of its policy in order to improve upon its appropriateness for sustainable development in the region.