Influencing Factors of Karen People on Education: A Case Study of Ban Pa-kha Nok of Mu 11 of Sa-moeng Tai Subdistrict, Sa-moeng District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the factors influencing education decisions of Karen people of Ban Pa-kha Nok 2) study the problems and obstacles of education of Karen people of Ban Pa-kha Nok and 3) propose education plans suitable for Karen people of Ban Pa-kha Nok in the future. The research collected data from the documents, interviews, observation with and without participation of 35 samples.

The results are the internal and external factors. The internal factors influencing the education decisions of Karen people of Ban Pa-kha Nok consist of a social aspect of relatives, a financial aspect, and a good perception believing that education brings a better life. The external factors are village development, a scholarship quota, and a 15-year free education policy. The problems and obstacles are expenses, the incompatibility of work and education, the lack of teachers comparing to the numbers of students, and not enough learning time. The suggestion for community is that education should be relevant to the working market such as a vocational curriculum, tourism and language ones, and the one of education to become a teacher in the lacking fields. Some people prefer only 15-year free policy education and then going back to work in the community.