HOW TO IMPROVE INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION IN THAILAND : A REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

Abstract

Thailand has launched its 20-Year National Strategy, a national development plan consisting of six areas, and human resource development is one of them. It is certain that education is one of the keys to developing human resource. In the present, there are still many problems with Thai education system which need to be solved and teachers undeniably play an important role in developing the education system into a more efficient one. In additional to that, problems in relation to teachers have continuously arisen. Although many policies aiming to support and solve educational problems have been implemented by the government, these problems cannot be permanently solved. This research study examines initial teacher education in Thailand and abroad in order to present its relevant factors which affect initial teacher education and to present this version of initial teacher preparation model in developing teacher training in the near future. The factors influencing initial teacher education are divided into two groups: internal and external factors. External factors are as follows: (1) governmental policies involving initial teacher education, (2) initial teacher preparation system and standard, and (3) stakeholders‘ needs while (1) initial teacher preparation objective, (2) initial teacher preparation curriculum, (3) initial teacher preparation instruction (4) initial teacher preparation profession practice, and (5) initial teacher preparation support are internal factors. It is undeniable that initial teacher education is directly affected by both internal and external factors.