STRATEGIC APPROACHES FOR ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY AT LA-AI PHITTHAYANUSORN SCHOOL UNDER THE NAKHON SI THAMMARAT SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AREA OFFICE

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to 1) examine the current conditions of competency development among teachers and educational personnel at La-Ai Phitthayanusorn School under the Secondary Educational Service Area Office Nakhon Si Thammarat. 2) develop strategies to enhance such competencies. and 3) examine the appropriateness of the developed strategies. This research was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 focused on investigating the current management practices through a survey of a sample group of 24 participants, consisting of school administrators, teachers, and educational personnel. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was employed, and the data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Phase 2 involved the development of strategies through semi-structured interviews based on the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach with 12 key informants, including members of the school board, the school director, deputy directors, heads of learning areas, and educational experts. The data were analyzed using SOAR Analysis, leading to the formulation of strategies for developing teacher and educational personnel competencies in six areas: 1) developing role-model teachers in professional ethics; 2) promoting teamwork through Professional Learning Communities (PLC); 3) enhancing the use of technology for modern teaching and learning; 4) strengthening teachers’ academic competence; 5) developing participatory local curricula and flexible instructional management skills; and 6) promoting knowledge creation and innovation through classroom research. Phase 3 examined the appropriateness of the strategies by evaluating four dimensions—accuracy, feasibility, consistency, and utility—through interviews with eight experts, including school administrators, expert teachers, educational supervisors, and parent representatives.The research findings confirmed that all six strategies were appropriate and could be practically implemented to enhance the competencies of teachers and educational personnel in the 21st century at La-Ai Phitthayanusorn School.