Best leadership practices for the effectiveness of educational quality assurance in public schools in Thailand

Abstract

This study focused on the following objectives, to analyze the expected ideal leadership practices of school directors that lead to effectiveness of educational quality assurance in public schools; to identify the “best leadership practices” of school directors who achieved effectiveness of educational quality assurance in outstanding public schools in Thailand; to find the current leadership practices of the directors of the public schools in Thailand; and to develop and validate the “best leadership practices” for the effectiveness of educational quality assurance in public schools in Thailand. The mixed methods of research methodology have been applied in data collections and data analysis. The main methods were the literature review, the interview of six public school leaders of the most effective schools in Thailand, the use of the questionnaire with 205 public school leaders, and focus group method was used for developing and validating the “best leadership practices” for the effectiveness of educational quality assurance in public schools in Thailand. The findings for research objective 1 were the result of the excessive review of literature about the best practices of the school directors which leads to the effectiveness of the school and the success of every student comprising; Visionary Leadership, Unity of Purpose, Learning Community, Instructional Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, Organizational Management, Assessment, Reflection, Collaboration, Diversity, Inquiry, and Professionalism. The findings for research objective 2 were the list of “leadership practices” of school leaders who achieved effectiveness of educational quality assurance was summed from the results of the common points of five schools out of 6 schools representing 6 regions which were qualitatively analyzed. The findings for research objective 3 were the list of the “current leadership practices” of the leaders of the public schools in Thailand. The findings for research objective 4 were the “best leadership practices” for the effectiveness of educational quality assurance in public schools which consisted of; an educational leader promotes the success of every student and achieves ONESQA Standards by; developing and communicating a vision of learning that is shared and supported by all stakeholders, nurturing and sustaining instructional program and culture conducive to student learning and staff professional growth, ensuring management of organization, operation, and resources for safe and effective learning environment, collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources, acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner, understanding, responding to, and influencing the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.