Towards Community-Centered Education for National Harmony and Development in Thailand. IIEP Seminar Paper: 13.

Overview & Synopsis

Though various adult and nonformal adult education programs have existed in Thailand over the last half-century, up to quite recently most of these remained second-class copies of the full-time formal school system. The new adult education programs concentrate on creating situations and raising issues relevant to the villagers' environment. The programs encourage villagers to discuss their problems among themselves and to examine various possible alternative solutions. Through sharing their own experiences in class and in other semiformal activities, the villagers find solutions to their problems and gradually master the process of "Khit Phen." Descriptions are given of three programs that are currently in operation--the functional literacy program, newspaper reading centers, and the school equivalency adult education curricula--and of three programs in the planning stage--a skill training system to meet the needs of villagers, lifelong education centers, and regional adult education centers. (Author/IRT)