Education Management under Local Administrative Organizations in Thailand: Opportunities, Challenges, and Development Guidelines

Abstract

This academic article presents a study based on a literature review aimed at analyzing and synthesizing the roles, significance, opportunities, challenges, and development guidelines for education management under Thailand’s local administrative organizations. The study examined academic literature, research, laws, policies, and reports related to decentralization and local education management. The synthesis revealed four key issues: First, local administrative organizations are close to the public, enabling them to manage educational institutions, allocate resources, and develop curricula that align with the context, identity, and needs of the community. Second, decentralization facilitates management agility and creates opportunities for communities, parents, the private sector, and civil society to participate in education management. Third, disparities in fiscal status, administrative capacity, and personnel readiness across different areas result in inequalities regarding resources and educational quality. Fourth, social, economic, and technological changes require local administrative organizations to develop flexible education management models that keep pace with new contexts. Based on these findings, the article proposes that the government implement measures to provide budget support based on local needs, enhance the capabilities of administrators, teachers, and personnel, promote the use of educational technology and innovation, establish collaborative networks, and develop monitoring and evaluation systems that link national educational standards with local development goals. These approaches will help foster autonomy alongside accountability, reduce inequality, and sustainably elevate the quality of local education management.