Publication: Multicultural education in Thailand
Issued Date
2018-03-04
Resource Type
ISSN
14698439
14675986
14675986
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85044308147
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Intercultural Education. Vol.29, No.2 (2018), 149-162
Suggested Citation
Thithimadee Arphattananon Multicultural education in Thailand. Intercultural Education. Vol.29, No.2 (2018), 149-162. doi:10.1080/14675986.2018.1430020 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/47417
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Multicultural education in Thailand
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Abstract
© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This study examines multicultural education policy in Thailand. The researcher used the qualitative research methods of interviewing, observation and document examination to obtain data. Theory about multicultural education was used as a theoretical framework. The sites of study were eight primary schools that served students from diverse cultures–Muslim, Buddhist, Burmese, Cambodian and Thai–in the southern provinces of Thailand. Results showed that current educational policies do provide opportunity for migrant students to access public education. The Ministry of Education has allowed schools to apply their own rules and regulations that reflect the diverse cultures of their students. The results also show that the curriculum includes references to various cultures, that textbooks contain content that encourages students to live in harmony with people from different cultures and that some schools have implemented bilingual education programs. However, deeper analysis of school practices made it clear that what seems to be an acceptance of cultural diversity is just another form of assimilation. The well-established features that define Thainess remain intact and the inclusion of culturally specific content is insufficient to change the unequal power relations among dominant and minority groups in Thailand.