Abstract:
This research was designed to study the educational management directions of the General Buddhist Scripture Schools in the next decade (2017-2026). Ethnographic Delphi Future Research (EDFR) technique was employed for data collection. The experts in the groups who participated in providing data for this study were directly involved in policy formulation and implementation in the General Buddhist Scripture Schools in location. The instrument used for data collection and analysis was a semi-structure interview form used with 13 Scripture School principals. This data was analyzed using content analysis to define the research and conceptual framework. For EDFR round I, the semi-structure interview form was used to interview 19 experts, including three groups; six policy formulation experts, three policy implementation experts, and 10 religion and education experts, For EDFR round II, a 5-point scale questionnaire was developed, base on the research results of EDFR round I, and used to collect the opinions of experts concerning the possibility of each educational management direction of the General Buddhist Scripture Schools in the next decade. This data analyzed using median and quartile range. Finally, for EDFR round III, the results of EDFR round II were presented to the same group of experts from EDFR round 1 and 2 and allowed them to confirm or change their answers. Educational management directions with the high level of possibility were chosen as the educational management directions of the General Buddhist Scripture Schools in the next decade (2017-2026). The results were as follows: 11 educational management directions were identified; administration and management, administrative structure, educational administrators and supporters, teachers, students, curriculum, teaching and learning, educational media and equipments, school buildings and environment, budgeting, and network building. Included within these 11 directions were 106 future direction items and all of them were estimated as possible; with 33 items at a very high
possibility and 73 items at a high possibility. All items were selected based on having a median of 3.5 or over and the consensus opinions among experts with an inter-quartile range not more than 1.5. The research identified 106 items and 11 educational management directions that represented the main issues and strength relevant to the current condition of the General Buddhist Scripture Schools as educational management directors in the next decade (2017-2026).