ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL GOALS AMONG GRADE 9 STUDENTS USING BUDDHIST GUIDANCE PSYCHOLOGY AT LAEM BUA WITTAYA SCHOOL, NAKHON PATHOM PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1) study problems and processes in enhancing educational goals of Grade 9 students using Buddhist guidance psychology; 2) compare the level of educational goal enhancement before and after the use of Buddhist guidance psychology; and 3) propose guidelines for enhancing educational goals using Buddhist guidance psychology. This research employed a pre-test/pre-test single-group experimental design. The sample consisted of 23 Grade 9 students from Laem Bua Wittaya School, Nakhon Pathom Province, selected using simple random sampling. The instruments included a Buddhist educational goals questionnaire, eight Buddhist guidance activities, in-depth interviews, and behavioral observation. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and a dependent samples t-test for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data.

The research findings showed that: 1) Problems concerning educational goals of Grade 9 students at Laem Bua Wittaya School, Nakhon Pathom Province, were rated at a moderate level. The process of enhancing educational goals using Buddhist guidance psychology developed by integrated the Four Paths of Accomplishment (Iddhipada 4) with Gelatt’s Decision-Making Theory, consisting of 8 main activities. The important principles and concepts are the integration of the Four Paths of Accomplishment (Iddhipada 4), namely Chanda (satisfaction), Viriya (diligence), Citta (steadfastness), and Vimamsa (reflection), as a guideline for developing educational goals in a step-by-step manner. 2) The use of Buddhist guidance psychology proved highly effective in enhancing students' educational goals. The average score of educational goals among Grade 9 students at Laem Bua Witthaya School after using the process was significantly higher than before using it, with an average score increase of 2.00 points (79.05%). This represented a meaningful improvement in both statistical and practical terms. 3) The guidelines for enhancing educational goals using Buddhist guidance psychology consist of: (1) the BUDDH-ED Goal Model, and (2) the "5 K" framework for organizing Buddhist guidance activities, which integrates Buddhist wisdom with modern guidance psychology to help Thai students to set clear and appropriate educational goals. This can be effectively applied in the Thai educational context.