Change from the Outside-In
Interviews with participating teachers and principals suggested that “outsidein”
support was critical at several stages in the IPM program’s development and
dissemination. First, the TEF played an important role in working with the teacher,
Mr. Manas, to identify and adapt the first prototype of the IPM curriculum for primary
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schools. Subsequently, TEF staff provided technical and moral support during the
implementation of the IPM curriculum at his school. While the technical support was
important, the Foundation’s involvement also provided legitimacy to his efforts to
depart from tradition at his rural school.
Support from the TEF was also critical during the dissemination stage. TEF
staff spread word of Manas’ success to teachers in other parts of Thailand, and again
lent legitimacy to the effort with Ministry of Education officials. As interest in the
curriculum grew, the TEF sponsored Training of Trainer and Refresher Training
courses and provided crucial follow-up monitoring and support. These activities
stimulated the interest and readiness of teachers beyond the province in which Manas
taught as well as providing necessary skill and implementation support.
The TEF was also instrumental in formulating and supporting a variety of
activities that helped lay the groundwork for longer-term sustainability of the IPM
curriculum. These included helping to found and support the National IPM Forum
and the Eco-Schools Network, sponsorship of proposal writing workshops for
teachers, evaluation of program implementation, and publication of data on the
program’s success. Thus, outside-in support could be viewed as providing some key
ingredients needed to nurture and grow the idea that sprouted from a single teacher.
Support for Change from the Top-Down and Across Levels
While the previously sections focused on bottom-up and outside-in change
factors, dissemination of the change at one school could not have spread as far
without support from the educational hierarchy. With the aim of institutionalizing the
project, it was necessary to build political support and institutional capacity at the
central, provincial, district, and school levels.