A Study of the Role as The Moral Teacher of the Monks Teacher in Schools to Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Kanchanaburi Province on Mindfulness
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Abstract
This research aimed to: 1) study the current competencies of Buddhist monks teaching morality in schools, and 2) develop their teaching competencies through activities based on the principles of Mindfulness. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting quantitative data through questionnaires and qualitative data through in-depth interviews. The population consisted of 378 Buddhist monks teaching in schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Kanchanaburi Province. The sample consisted of 191 monks in schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission in Kanchanaburi Province. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics percentage, mean, and standard deviation as well as qualitative content analysis.
The research findings revealed that 1) The strongest competency among the monks was personal attributes and attitudes (mean = 4.2), such as honesty, discipline, and being good role models for students. The most needed area for development was media production and usage (mean = 2.9), particularly in the use of digital media and creating modern content. 2) The competency development was implemented through four Mindfulness-based activities: (1) Understanding the role of monks in the classroom (2) Mindful use of social media (3) Creating interactive learning media with Canva
(4) Information management using Google Applications. The results showed significant improvement: 51.8% of participants reported the highest level of knowledge gain. 60.7% expressed the highest satisfaction with the trainers. The integration of Mindfulness enhanced the monks’ concentration, awareness, and self-regulation
In conclusion, developing competencies through Mindfulness-based activities proved effective in enhancing essential skills and qualities for school-based Buddhist monks, while also strengthening their role in promoting morality and ethics among students in today’s educational context.
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