Development of school management strategies to promote a sustainable metropolis

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were 1) to study the current and desirable states of school management and 2) to develop school management strategies to enhance a sustainable metropolis. A mixed-method approach—both quantitative and qualitative—was applied. Data were collected from 827 administrators and 168 schools using questionnaires and from 9 specialists using interviews. The research findings revealed that: The current state of school management to enhance a sustainable metropolis had an average score of 3.63, with the schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) having the highest average score (X̄ = 3.69). The desirable state of school management to enhance a sustainable metropolis had an average score of 4.28, and the schools under the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) had the highest average score (X̄ = 4.44), indicating that both the current and desirable states of school management manifested operation at a high level. The three priority needs of school management to enhance a sustainable metropolis were: 1) school network, 2) learning places in the community, and 3) the operational process. The school management strategies to enhance a sustainable metropolis contained a set of three main strategies named “Strategies to unite the power for strengthening schools towards a sustainable metropolis” comprising: 1) strengthening management to develop students and staff to become engaged citizens of the metropolis, 2) enhancing the efficiency of school management based on the concept of economy, simplicity, and the most benefit towards development of a sustainable metropolis, and 3) developing a proactive synergetic local community, breaking new ground in learning places and honoring the culture of a sustainable metropolis. The conditions for implementing the above-mentioned strategies covered the following issues: 1) preparation of teachers and staff; 2) administrators as change agents; 3) school administration focusing on resource allocation and teacher development; 4) school environment; 5) well-prepared students, and 6) the availability of programs.