State and Perception of Community Participation in Education Development to Build up a Smart City of Phitsanulok

Abstract

This research aimed to survey the state of and the needs for community participation in education development in order to build up a Smart City of Phitsanulok; and to study about the perception of parents and community leaders relating to education development policies and plans, as well as the social problems caused by rapid urbanization. The research methodology was based on mixed methods, referred to quantitative and qualitative data. The survey of community par - ticipation was based on the opinions of 600 people systematically randomed from 20 communities in Muang District of Phitsanulok. The case study of the perceptions about policies, planning, and social problems was scoped around a rapidly urbanized community where a university existed.

The research found that the participation was “moderate” in academic affairs, student activities, school environment, and budgeting; only 36.2% of the repliers were acknowledged about Smart City Policy; and the needs for education development were diversed among the 20 communities. The case study revealed that, parents and community leaders in the rapidly urbanized community participated to some level in education development, with high concern about the social problems related to traffic law abusement and drugs.