Strengthening The Education System to Promote Democratic Citizenship in Chaiyaphum Province's Educational Institutions

Abstract

   This research aimed 1. to study the strength of the democratic citizenship education system of educational institutions in Chaiyaphum Province and 2. to study the attitudes of the youths in Chaiyaphum Province towards democratic citizenship education. This research employed a mixed - method research approach comprising 2 phases. For phase 1, qualitative research, it studied the strength of the democratic citizenship education system of educational institutions in Chaiyaphum Province. The target groups were 28 students, teachers, and lecturers of educational institutions in Chaiyaphum Province. The target groups were selected purposively. The research instruments were semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted by content analysis through domain analysis. Phase 2, quantitative research, studied the attitudes of the youths in Chaiyaphum Province towards democratic citizenship. The samples were 378 students in Chaiyaphum Province. The sample size was determined using Yamane’s formula at an error level of 0.05 percent. The research instruments were questionnaires. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

   The research results found that 1. The strength of the education system for democratic citizenship of educational institutions in Chaiyaphum Province is at a moderate to low level because the basic curriculum of the Ministry of Education 2008 does not support the creation of democratic citizenship. In addition, the organization of education in the school system, textbooks, teaching and learning processes, teachers’ ideas, school culture, and achievement assessment systems do not motivate teachers to give importance to organizing teaching and learning to create democratic citizenship. 2. The quantitative research results found that the average level of attitudes of children and youth in Chaiyaphum Province on the issue of democratic citizenship was at a level of high agreement. The level of attitudes of children and youth in Chaiyaphum Province on the issue of democratic citizenship in all four dimensions, from most to least, are as follows: 1) Citizens who are aware of the importance of citizenship, 2) Citizens who take action by themselves, 3) Citizens who are interested in politics and society, and 4) Citizens who know their abilities in both society and politics.