THE ELDERLY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT OPERATION IN UPPER NORTHERN THAILNAD

Abstract

This research and development aimed to examine the operation of three successful elderly schools as Best Practice in the Upper Northern Thailand and contribute the knowledge acquired to develop the elderly school in Yang Hom Subdistrict (Hospital Area) in Khun Tan District of Chiang Rai Province. This research data collecting was carried out with observation, in-depth interviews, group discussions, and community conferences. This research also applied content analysis for data analysis. The first phase target groups for collecting data on best practice elderly schools consisted of 86 people, including the elderly and their leaders, monks, local government officials, and speakers in elderly schools. The second phase target groups for development elderly school in Yang Hom Subdistrict consisted of 111 persons as samples who were the elderly and their leaders, monks, local government officials, and speakers in elderly schools. The results showed that three successful elderly school as Best Practice had operations aiming to provide benefits for the elderly in all four aspects, which were physical, mental, social and intelligent. All schools shared the same factor in terms of having key volunteer leaders working for the elderly, which earned them faith and trust of people in the community. However, the difference in the three schools was the key leaders in each area of different roles in the community, such as the mayor, the monk, and the community developers of local administration which had effect on the sustainability of the elderly school. In the terms of the outcome of development for elderly school in Yang Hom Sub-district (Hospital Area) was resulted from the need of the elderly network in this area. The main leader was the president of the elderly club, who gained the faith and trust of the people in the community. He was both an administrator and coordinator in organizing the Senior School Curriculum, taking the management model of the three elder schools as Best Practice and using it as school development together with consideration of the needs within area and limitations of work.