Educational settings, problems and needs for education of Mon students in prathom suksa six : a case study of Wat Bangkradi school, Khet Bang Khun Thian, Bangkok metropolis
Abstract:
The objectives of this research study were to examine the formal and informal educational settings, problems and needs of Mon students in Prathom Suksa six of Wat Bangkradi School, Khet Bang Khun Thian in Bangkok Metropolis. The research findings revealed that the Mon in Bangkradi village immigrated from Burma to live in Thailand for a long time, and they retained hereunto aspects of the Mon identities, in particular the Mon language, traditional culture and certain beliefs. Given to their Thai nationality, Mon children were required to attend school and were educated according to the 1978 Elementary Education Curriculum. Mon students could study well, but they had some problems in using Thai language because of their speaking Mon in their daily lives. Most activities in school emphasized on discipline and academic knowledge for continuing their education at the secondary level. Besides, Mon students wished that Mons traditional culture were integrated in school activities but it did not appear much. Accordingly, the kind of informal education which most Mon students obtained was the socialization of knowledge on Mon language, traditional culture, beliefs, vocation as well as moral and ethics. Family, Wat Bangkradi and the Thai Raman Association, situated in this village, played roles in preserving Mon identities. The family particularly had essential roles in socializing Mons language and beliefs. Problems generally encountered in educational process in medial level were that school faced the problems in implementing the educational goals and curriculum formulated by the government; and that parents, due to the economic reasons, had not enough time to discipline and cultivate warm relationships with their children. As regards the educational needs, it was found that the students wished their school to lay much emphasis on the teaching of the Area of Life Experience, particularly, in insetting the matters of the Mon in the school curriculum. Additionally, it was also shown from the aspect of informal education that the students demanded more knowledge on public health for quality of life improvement as well as knowledge of industry for vocation. The preservation of the Mons traditional culture was also felt needed with particular emphasis given to Songkran Festival and the Buddhist Lent.