Although ‘not easy’, addressing the issue of educational disparity calls for implementing knowledge-based policy. Information demands, resources, and current understanding are needed for this. It is a crucial source of energy for bringing about fundamental change in the educational system.
Because of this, the purposes of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) are aligned and support one another in employing research and innovation to advance the nation’s educational system and lessen educational disparity. As a result, on Monday, July 10, 2023, at Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), a memorandum of agreement (MOU) was signed between TSRI and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF).
There is a framework for collaboration over a three-year period addressing three main areas of work:
1. Development of research, database, and knowledge management;
2. Development of personnel potential and formation of a network of researchers and academics;
3. Development of research management system and innovation to create systematic change, including policies to make Thailand progress in education, especially in finding a long-term solution to the problem of inequality.
On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Vicharn Panich, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Integrating Strategic Issues in Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in Education and Learning of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) and the advisors of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Executive Board have provided direction, expectations and the role of research and innovations in reducing inequality in the cooperation between the two organizations.
“The most urgent and important needs in the development of the Thai education system consist of many parts. The main idea is to understand the desired behavior of ‘Every stakeholder passes through’ the entire system. It may consist of schools, teachers, students, parents, communities and bring various tools and innovations to use. It is something that both organizations must work together. This cooperation will change as it brings things hidden under the carpet to the public. It involves using various research frameworks to formulate questions, take action, and find solutions to raise the quality of education and reduce inequality in Thai society.”
Education research is necessary to raise standards and lower inequality. The Equitable Education Fund (EEF) and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) need to conduct systematic research as the foundation for transformation and the development of an ecosystem for learning that lessens inequality.
Research to enhance student learning outcomes, which must not be disregarded, is another area of research that is equally fascinating as systematic research. Because of the end, student outcomes will be a gauge of how well previous educational management strategies have served students’ requirements and are genuinely practicable.
According to Associate Professor Patamawadee Pochanukul (Ph.D.), Director of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), this cooperation agreement resulted from the collaboration of two funds, namely the Science Research and Innovation Promotion Fund under (TSRI) and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF). This Memorandum of Cooperation’s signature is intended to promote organized change. In the past, the National Budget Research Grant/Science Research and Innovation Scholarship pushed for research and suggested innovation to 180 agencies around the nation in order to build public policy and utilize research for optimum benefit.
“Research is human resource development. Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) has significant worksheets: reducing poverty and inequality through employing research to drive Both policy and spatial driving. The main goal is to create change and cooperation this time. We have three main objectives in creating opportunities to reduce inequality:
1. Budget support and development of research and innovation related to creating educational equality to create systematic change. If we talk about education, it must be coupled with learning because education is one of the methods that lead to learning. In Thailand, we have many systems and players in many different systems, including school systems that talks about schools and children, schools and teachers, schools and parents or the teacher-child system and teachers and parents. The participants in these systems are important determinants of how education will change. Our nation’s education system and system players do not yet get along well. To do this task, we can collaborate. It will improve the quality of care given to youngsters who have the potential to be a force for national growth.
2. Links in databases, children’s databases included, tools, and working networks, particularly in gathering information about the family setting – parents and kids can’t deny that educational inequity is also caused by educational variables. The economy has not changed. The goal of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) is to gather household data over an extended period of time in order to identify research problem bottlenecks and conduct data analysis. Data collection is essential and crucial because it allows us to track developments in schooling.
3. Thailand has historically struggled to capitalize on research and innovation. Although there is research and innovation, it has not yet been used or given rise to chances to influence policy and systemic change. We need to establish a new method of operation at this time, beginning with bringing in the policy side to examine the specifics of that research and innovation. This provision will undoubtedly result in significant changes to schooling if it can be put into practice.
The growth of potential and the network of researchers come last. Researchers in education also work in many other subjects, such as psychology, administration, and many more. It is crucial that research on many systems is planned jointly with the aim of bringing about systemic change.
As a result, economic and social inequality generally and educational disparity specifically are intertwined. The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) organization has a vast network that includes topics unrelated to schooling. The benefits listed in this section, in my opinion, will contribute to change, promote working with the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) on collaborative goal planning, and improve the two organizations’ ability to manage research effectively.
The manager of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, discusses the function of the fund in promoting educational equality. It was stated that the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) have always collaborated before signing the memorandum of understanding. However, by drawing on the research, innovation, and data from Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) to help establish a culture of using data, systems, and research methods that can be applied in practice, we will be able to function sustainably over the long term.
“This cooperation has three outstanding issues that the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) gives importance to in driving to reduce educational inequality:
1. There is a creation of educational security from early childhood to higher education since less than 500,000 Thai children are born in Thailand each year, and we are already entering an elderly society before we can even escape the middle-income trap. Consequently, investing in every individual has value for the development of the nation.
2. More flexible learning encourages parental involvement and removes educational obstacles, allowing everyone to easily access education without the requirement for children to be in or out of the system. Education will no longer be restricted to the classroom but will be available in every aspect of life.
3. The ownership is split between the public, private, and municipal sectors. We have local philosophers here in the neighborhood. Knowledgeable individuals in various fields are essential to changing the educational system.
The Equitable Education Fund’s (EEF) goal goes beyond conducting studies with a view to bringing about systemic change. It is critical to advance research in numerous fields across all 77 provinces, including schools, teachers, communities, and others. This collaboration not only advances the objectives of both organizations, but it also addresses goals 9 and 12 of the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, which deal with intergenerational poverty and the development of high-caliber human skills, respectively.
Addressing inequality is not just a short-term fix. However, investing in research and innovation to reduce educational disparity is an investment in national development that will bear fruit in the long term. There will be a large number of children and youth entering the tax base. There will be a higher quality labor force in the private sector. The country will have a diverse workforce. Additionally, in the long run, the outcomes of human resource development will play a significant role in the future growth of the nation.
