6.1. Policy Delivery Strategies and Problems in the First Decade of Education Reform
Thailand education reform in the first decade (1999-2009) seemed to be unsuccessful, partly because of the
predominant use of top-down policy delivery strategies such as sending policy-related documents to practitioners,
policy briefing meeting, and providing working manual. Previous strategies were distribution of documents/training
manuals/formal workshops and supervision of teachers’ operations. Education policies of the country were changed
when the government changed, yielding inconsistent efforts for the reform of education. In addition, many reform
policies and delivery strategies were implemented without harmonious and sufficient understanding of school
contexts, teachers’ needs, and teachers’ active participation. Major obstacle in the past education reform in Thailand
seemed to be the unwilling-to-change thinking of teachers.