A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration in International Public Management

Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007

Throughout Thailand, education is perceived to be the driving force behind national development in the network age. Information and communication technology (ICT) have created learning opportunities and become powerful tools for education and development. Meanwhile, this technology is a big challenge for Thailand with the risk of unequal implementation and use in the schools within the country; some may soon be information-rich and others information-poor. Implementing ICT projects in schools is a new trend in Thailand. Recently, the Ministry of Education has piloted the 'ICT Model School Project' in some schools aiming to develop teachers, staff and students by providing learning opportunities for using ICT tools. Little is known on implementation of ICT; it is necessary to comparatively study the ICT implementation of ICT in a 'Model School' and a 'Non-Model School' in order to identify the differences and contribute to guidelines that give advice on ICT implementation and capacity development in schools. The study has focused on two schools: Wat Weruwan School ('Non-Model School) and Prathomsuksa Thammasat School ('Model School') by looking at the ICT implementation. The results are based on collecting and analyzing primary and secondary data; the former in form of in-depth interviews among teachers, staff and students; convenient sampling was used. A major result is that the Model School is more advanced in the implementation and use of ICT by teachers, staff and students than the Non-Model School. As far as implementation is concerned, the success factors are as follows: (i) strong leadership in terms of communication, motivation and conflict resolution with a focus on software and hardware but not hardware only. (ii) Clear project with deadlines (iii) supply of a special ICT budget, (iv) a separate unit that is solely responsible for ICT implementation and training, with professional personal; (v) disseminating activities that raise awareness, skills and knowledge in staff and students so as to create multiple demand id to staff and teachers; (vi) allow enough time for implementation. Implementation is never finished, continuous training and 'brush up's should be offered, (vii) provide incentive by competition but also giving opportunities to students to use ICT of the school outside the school for homework and fun.