Educational decentralization policies in Thailand and South Korea: A comparative study

Abstract

The Thai government, as a result of globalization and intent of the 1997 constitution, initiated an educational decentralization policy which has been in place for over two
decades, but serious problems and challenges remain and still need to be resolved as they have led to opposition and misunderstanding, hindering the policy’s progress.
This paper aims to examine the educational decentralization policy of Thailand and compare it with that of South Korea, whose has been in place longer, and which is
ranked at the top of the international education system. The methodology of the study includes documentary analyses, fieldwork, and interviews, with the results being
presented in the form of descriptive analysis. The findings reveal that the two countries’ educational decentralization policies share many similarities at the macro
level; however, they have some dissimilarities with regard to details and functions. Both countries have enacted laws and regulations to drive their educational
decentralization policies. When it comes to implementation at the macro level and central and local planning, Thailand and South Korea have both organized structures
and assigned responsibilities connected to educational decentralization that conform to the values of independence and flexibility. This research explores South Korea’s
success in educational decentralization, which has been enabled by political, economic, and social factors. Finally, this research offers recommendations for Thailand to
develop its policy towards educational decentralization based on the success stories from South Korea.