Bangkok, 18 November 2024 – Wat Ban Paladpuk School, a rural opportunity-expansion school in Buriram province, has demonstrated significant improvement in educational quality, achieving above-national-average scores in the O-NET (Ordinary National Educational Test) for two consecutive years. This achievement follows the school’s participation in the external quality assessment conducted by the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA).
- – BRAND’s Essence of Chicken successfully concluded BRAND’s Brain Camp
- – AIS and USC Annenberg Reveal Key Findings of “Thai Creator Culture”
Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Deputy Minister of Education, highlighted the school’s success as a testament to the effectiveness of ONESQA’s external quality assessment program. He explained that the school had undergone an external quality assessment by ONESQA in 2021, receiving a ‘Needs Improvement’ rating. However, through active participation in ONESQA’s program and collaboration with various stakeholders, the school was able to implement the recommendations effectively, leading to a ‘Very Good’ rating in the 2024 assessment.
“The success of Wat Ban Paladpuk School clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of ONESQA’s external quality assessment recommendations in enhancing education quality,” said Mr. Surasak. “Even an opportunity-expansion school that previously needed improvement can achieve excellent outcomes if it implements the recommendations seriously.”
The school’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given the challenges faced by small and opportunity-expansion schools in remote areas, such as budget, staffing, and resource shortages. By utilizing ONESQA’s assessment and recommendations, Wat Ban Paladpuk School was able to address these challenges and improve its educational quality.
Mr. Surasak emphasized the importance of ONESQA’s role in providing development pathways for schools, especially those in remote and rural areas. He noted that ONESQA’s feedback is tailored to each school’s context and can be practically applied, enabling them to improve their educational quality.
In addition to its academic achievements, Wat Ban Paladpuk School has also implemented several noteworthy educational activities. The school developed a project to produce toothpaste, mouthwash, and breath spray from Siamese rough bush leaf, a common plant found in the area, which won a gold medal at a regional student arts and craft contest. The school has also successfully implemented the ‘Good Toilets, Happy Students’ policy.
The success of Wat Ban Paladpuk School serves as an example for other schools, demonstrating the positive impact of ONESQA’s external quality assessment program on improving education quality in Thailand.
Dr. Nantha Nguantad, Acting Director of ONESQA, elaborated on the assessment process, stating that it focuses on evaluating the quality of educational management within schools. This includes examining the curriculum, learning processes, and overall environment conducive to learning.
“Our assessment doesn’t solely focus on students’ academic scores,” Dr. Nantha explained. “We delve into the school’s management processes, the effectiveness of their teaching methodologies, and whether they foster a conducive learning environment. This holistic approach allows us to identify areas for improvement and provide tailored recommendations.”
ONESQA’s external quality assessment is conducted every five years, with the aim of ensuring that educational institutions meet national standards. The assessment process involves a comprehensive review of the school’s self-assessment report, classroom observations, and interviews with various stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers, students, and parents.
Following the assessment, ONESQA provides a detailed report with recommendations for improvement. Schools are then expected to develop an action plan to address the identified areas and undergo a follow-up assessment to monitor their progress.
Wat Ban Paladpuk School’s success story underscores the importance of external quality assessment in driving educational improvement. By actively engaging with ONESQA’s recommendations, the school was able to overcome its challenges and achieve significant progress in its educational quality. This achievement serves as an inspiration for other schools and highlights the crucial role of ONESQA in ensuring quality education for all students in Thailand.
#ONESQA #WatBanPaladpukSchool #EducationQuality #ExternalQualityAssessment #ThailandEducation
