Successful school principalship in Thailand: a literature review

Abstract

In this chapter, we seek to understand the definition and practices of successful school principalship in Thailand by reviewing selected literature extracted from the Thai-Journal Citation Index database. After completion of the search and screening process, 32 articles were included in the review. The articles were coded using qualitative analysis software and the results synthesized in terms of definition of successful school principalship and associated leadership practices. The findings revealed that successful school principalship in Thailand is defined as general excellence in school management processes, professional recognition, or attainment of highly regarded professional rank. This contrasts with Western nations where demonstrated impact on school effectiveness is often identified as a criterion for successful principalship. The difference is explained by Thai cultural norms where norms of collectivism and power distance norms give precedence to process over performance. While the review was able to identify principal practices that are perceived as “successful” in the Thai literature, the validity of this exercise was hindered by the often-ambiguous basis on which conclusions were drawn by scholars. Finally, the review elaborates how political and societal factors in the Thai context shape principals' values, practices, and decision-making processes.