Abstract:
This study investigates the educational conditions and underlying problems, and the general educational and vocational training needs of blind students. It also examines the parents wishes and attitudes concerning these issues. The methods used include study of documents and case studies, supplemented and reinforced by interviews, inspection, and observation. As to data collection, the research herself went to the school on several occasions. The target population of this study includes 49 blind students who currently attend classes between Prathom Suksa 3 and Matayom Suksa 3 levels, 21 teachers, school administrators and supervisors, 49 blind students parents, of whom 42 were actually interviewed. Presentation of the data is in the form of percentage conversion, diagrams, and photographs with accompanying comments. The research has produced the following results. The first area concerns education setting, problems, and needs in relation to general education . Research has found that blind students follow the programmes at elementary and secondary levels, which are especially designed for the learning disabled. The study has found that certain subjects present particular problems, e.g. find arts, physical education, mathematics, and science. Classrooms, facilities, and instructional aids are inadequate . Appropriate curricula and assessment methods have yet to be developed. The school is in need of more buildings for classroom purposes, more instructional aids, and more innovative curricula and assessment methods. The second area investigates the conditions of and needs for vocational training, and the underlying problems. Blind students follow course in vocational training in accordance with the programme organized by the school, along with experts. These problems relate to particular types of occupational activities, notably cooking, ceramics and agriculture. There is a lack of personnel and the quality of output has yet to be upgraded. The school is clearly in need of more training areas, more personnel, and more suitable training facilities. It also needs to bring the curriculum and output up to standard. The third and last area addressed by this study covers the questions and issues arising from the hopes, expectations, and attitudes of parents. The study has found that parents want their children to have opportunities to pursue general education as their intellectual capabilities will allow them. As regards vocational training , music instruction is most preferred by parents. However, parents tend to be pessimistic about employment prospects for blind graduates since society still refuses to recognize the abilities of the blind