THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN PALI OF SANGHA ADMINISTRATOR IN PHICHIT PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of Research Articles were to: 1. study general management context of Religious Studies, Pali division, of Sangha Administrators, in Pichit Province, 2. compare sanghs’ opinion levels toward the management of Religious Studies, Pali section of administrative monks in Pichit Province by personal factors and 3. study problems, obstacles and proposal of the management of Religious Studies, Pali section, of administrative monks in Pichit Province.

Methodology was the mixed methods: The quantitative research collected data from a sample  of 361 monks in Pichit Province with open and closed ended questionnaires with reliability value at 0.974, anazed data was  descriptive statistics: frequency, percentile, mean and standard deviation and hypothesis test with t-test and F-fest. The qualitative research collected data from 10 key informants by in-depth-interviewing, analyzed data by descriptive interpretation.

Findings were as follows:

1. Sanghas’opinions toward the management of Religious Studies, Pali section in Pichit Province by overall were at the high level ( = 4.07, S.D. = 0.587) and opinions toward all aspects of management were also at high level; measurement and evaluation were at highest level with the mean at ( = 4.12, S.D. = 0.367), secondly, learning and teaching activities were at ( = 4.11, S.D. = 0.603), curriculum was at ( =4.09, S.D. = 0.620) and the lowest aspect was the learning and teaching activities management was at ( =3.99, S.D.=0.654 respectively.
2. Opinion comparison classified by personal data; age, ordained years, educational level, Dahhamma degree, Pali degree and regular education level was that;monks with different age, ordained years Dhamma and Pali education levels and regular education levels had different opinions toward the management of Religious Studies, Pali section at the significant level at 0.05 accepting the set hypothesis.
3. Problems and obstacles of the management of Religious Studies, Pali Section of administrative monks in Pichit Province were that: 1) the content of curriculum were too old, the language used in the Pali text was difficult to understand, the study method emphasized memory and translation rather than comprehension, lacked of application, not suitable for learns; maturity, 2) study time table was not systematic and consistent, the study session was limited, not enough time to absorb the content of subject profoundly, 3) learning emphasized memory and translation, there was not new technique application and analysis and lacking modern teaching aids.As for the recommendation was as follows: Itthipatha4path of accomplishment; basis for (Passion) (Diligence) (Mind or Consciousness) (Investigation). 1) there should be improvement of the curriculum, adding more interesting contents and making it easier so that learners would be eager to learn and memory and learning by heart should be emphasized only the necessary parts or the part that needed to be used at the specific purpose so that learners would be more eager to learn, not to be reluctant to learn. 2) there should be a short and long plan for curriculum improvement so that the curriculum would be up to date and yearly operation plan and 3) there should be a meeting plan for teacher orientation to understand and implement the curriculum wisely so that learners would comprehend the content from simplicity to high level content.