Patterns of learning about Thai rural communities in the eastern part of Thailand

Ruangwit Limpanat; Rewat Saengsuriyong; Sopha Chanamun; Pharadi Mahakhan

Patterns of learning about Thai rural communities in the eastern part of Thailand

1999

Ruangwit Limpanat | Rewat Saengsuriyong | Sopha Chanamun | Pharadi Mahakhan

Purpose of this study is to examine the learning processes of two key target groups : namely, tertiary-level educational institutions situated in eastern Thailand, and local organization and village leaders. The study investigates how these two groups learn about rural Thailand. In the case of tertiary-level educational institutions, there is very little direct contact with rural Thailand. What learning does occur is generally based on textbooks and other bodies of knowledge imported from abroad. Learning objectives vary from field to field. In the sciences, for instance, the objective is to adapt this foreign knowledge to local conditions. In the humanities and social sciences, the objective is to preserve and make use of indigenous bodies of knowledge. Local organization and vilage leaders have as their primary learning objective to facilitate earning a living. Learning, therefore, is based on real-life experience and knowledge that has been passed down to them from previous generation. It makes no reference to modern academic texts or imported bodies of knowledge. Nevertheless, rural communities have shown themselves to be open to new ideas and new technologies from outside sources. Ultimately, however, these communitites accept only that knowledge which can be modified to be of maximum benefit to them.

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