Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to 1) study the current situation, problems and suggestions on the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces, 2) develop the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces, and 3) audit the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces. This research used a mixed research method. There were three phases. Phase 1: The study of current situation, problems and suggestions was performed by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The sample was 270 Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces selected by stratified random sampling method. The schools selected as a case study were six schools. The focus group discussion consisted of 20 people. The research instrument was a questionnaire with the index of Item Objective Congruence between 0.80-1.00 and reliability of 0.87. The interview form had the index of Item Objective Congruence between 0.80-1.00. The minute form of the focus group discussion had the index of Item Objective Congruence between 0.80-1.00. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and content analysis. Phase 2: The development of internal quality assurance system was performed by in-depth interviewing five experts. The research instrument for collecting data was an interview form with the index of Item Objective Congruence between 0.80-1.00. The data were analyzed by content analysis method. Phase 3: The audition of the internal quality assurance system was done by 30 experts. The research instrument was a questionnaire with the index of Item Objective Congruence between 0.80-1.00 and the reliability of 0.89. The data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, and content analysis.The research findings were:1. The current situation of the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces in overall picture was at a moderate level. The problems of operating the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces were that the educational personnel lacked of commitment and dedication in improving the quality of education systematically and continuously, and that the schools did not have enough personnel, so their personnel had to do lots of works. The standard establishment of school identity was not clear. The budget to support administration in basic education schools was inadequate. Teachers did not have major degrees that the schools wanted, or some had no teacher education degrees. Teachers also had lots of other works besides teaching. Frequent relocation and transfer of teachers made the works discrete. Some personnel did not have the awareness and the understanding of developing internal quality assurance. Monitoring and evaluation system had not resulted in the development of education quality. Teachers had less self-development, and did not have motivation or inspiration. Educational policies were changed frequently, so the operation was not continuous. The suggestions for operating the internal quality assurance were that there should be a system covering important components for operating the internal quality assurance, and it could be implemented in actual situation. It should be consistent with the related principles and theories, and let all personnel participate, give opinion and plan the operations in the same direction. 2.The development of internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools from this research was the quality assurance system called CoPSPAR. It consisted of six stages as follows: 2.1) The content analysis it indicated the analysis of things which involved or influenced education. 2.2) The establishment of quality education development plan it means the production of educational development plan conforming to context and duty to meet the goal of efficient education quality. 2.3) The team building it means the group of people who have various skills and participate in education quality assurance. 2.4) The working process it means the process in quality assurance system which is in association and continuity. 2.5) The measurement and assessment it means the assessment for getting data to be used as a decision making for the project value, outcome, and process. 2.6) The report it means the process of collecting and presenting the information. 3. The audition of the internal quality assurance system in the Basic Education Schools in three southern border provinces was at a high level in overall picture. When considering each aspect, the highest average was the utility at a high level. The second highest aspects were the suitability and the propriety at a high level. The lowest average was the feasibility at a high level.