Local Wisdom Model in School Education Management

Abstract

Thai local wisdom is the basic Thai bodies of knowledge inherited through learning processes,
transfer, and development from one generation to the next. This type of local wisdom knowledge,
if not conserved or transferred, may vanish with its owner. Thus, instructional management process in
academic institutions is an important mechanism that drives forth the knowledge and local wisdom towards
instruction and administration in schools. This research was aimed at analyzing the relationships of
community contexts and studying the model for applying local wisdom in school’s management of education.
The Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques were used. The data
was collected by in-depth interview, participatory observation, people’s symposium, and AIC-based focus
group discussion. The findings show that the local wisdom model in schools is viable through raising of
consciousness in conservation of community’s local wisdom. Activities involved can be project-based and
knowledge management, with an emphasis on participation both at the school or community level. Or else,
a model might call for participation from households, temples, and schools, where experts are invited to
educate people on local wisdom. The local wisdom curriculum may be designed or a “local wisdom teacher”
created, who can intervene in designing instruction, building good relations. The school can coordinate
with community sages or leaders of local wisdom in different fields. These individuals should be regularly
invited to educate students. Learning should be followed up and evaluated according to the local wisdom
curriculum and concretely reflected to the community people. Then local wisdom can be developed and
extended in the form of evident products or activities.