Abstract:
This study aimed to assess the needs of academic administration of early childhood level in schools under Bueng Kan Primary Education Area Office. There were three phases of the study. Phase 1 was to identify the components. The target group was 5 experts to evaluate the propriety of the components and indicative behaviors. The tools used in this phase comprised a synthesis form and a 5-level rating scale questionnaire. Statistics used were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Phase 2 was the assessment of the needs. The participants included 280 administrators and early childhood teachers, who were recruited using multi-stage sampling. The tool was a 5-level rating scale questionnaire, which the part of actual state indicated validity index range between 0.60-1.00, discrimination power index ranged between 0.39 - 0.91 and reliability index was at 0.98, whereas the part of desirable state indicated validity index range between 0.60-1.00, discrimination power index ranged between 0.38 - 0.92 and reliability index was at 0.98. Statistics used in data analysis were mean and standard deviation and modified priority needs index. Phase 3 was the development of the guidelines. The target group was 5 experts to evaluate the propriety of the components and indicative behaviors.
The results showed that,
1. The elements and behaviors of early childhood academic management in schools consisted of 5 components with 27 indicative behaviors, namely 1) curriculum development and implementation composed of 5 indicative behaviors, 2) experience management composed of 6 indicative behaviors; 3) measurement and evaluation of development composed of 5 behavioral indicators, 4) media production and development composed of 6 indicative behaviors and 5) Internal supervision composed of 5 indicative behaviors. The overall propriety of all components was at high level.
2. The actual state and the desirable state of early childhood academic management in schools, in overall, were at the highest levels.
3. The need to develop early childhood academic management in schools showed the overall priority needs index at 0.044, and showed that the aspect of media production and development obtained the highest level of priority.
4. Guidelines to develop early childhood academic management in composed of 1 objective, 4 key results and 17 development guidelines which showed the propriety at the highest level and the feasibility at high level.