Innovation in managing small primary schools in the digital age Under the Office of the Basic Education Commission

Abstract

This research article is a mixed methods approach with the following objectives: 1) to explore the demand for innovative management systems for small primary schools in the digital age under the Office of the Basic Education Commission; 2) to develop an innovative management system for small primary schools in the digital age, utilizing the ADDIE model; and 3) to test and evaluate this innovative management system for small primary schools in the digital age. In phase 1, the sample consisted of 378 small primary schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission, with 756 participants including school administrators and teachers or those managing the innovative management system. A multi-stage sampling method was used, and a survey tool with a reliability score of .95 was employed for data collection, which was analyzed using basic statistics. In phase 2, the informants were experts, involving a focus group of 9 people. Qualitative criteria were established, and a focus group discussion recording tool was used for analysis through descriptive analysis. In phase 3, the subjects for testing and evaluation were 30 school administrators or managers of the innovative management system, selected through purposive sampling. An assessment tool was used to evaluate suitability and usefulness, with data analyzed using basic statistics. The research findings revealed that: 1) the ten most in demand innovative management systems for small primary schools were: the electronic government procurement system (e-GP), the budget management system (E-budget), the digital performance appraisal (Dpa), various other innovations, the individual student data management system (DMC), the electronic donation system (e-Donation), the distance learning television (DLTV), the school management information system (School MIS), the electronic self-assessment reporting system (e-SAR), and the electronic training system (e-Training), listed in order of demand; 2) the innovations for managing small primary schools included aspects of academic management, budget management, human resources management, and general administration; and 3) the developed innovations were found to be suitable and beneficial, with practical applicability in managing small primary schools.