An evaluation of continuing professional development for public secondary school teachers in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers is considered as an essential requirement in Education. In Thailand, the government has made an attempt to develop teachers through a scheme of CPD, which is seen as not yet reaching its intended goals. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine the provision of CPD in Thailand and to search for practical ideas for CPD of teachers in the country.An investigation was carried out of the perceptions of public secondary school teachers and school administrators toward CPD for teachers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The objectives were to highlight teachers' perception ofCPD, to study the needs of teachers, to explore the opportunities of CPD available for teachers, to reveal influential factors upon teachers, to investigate the problems and obstacles facing teachers, and to examine schools' problems, supports and school administrators' opinions toward CPD for teachers.The major fmdings were: 1) the teachers saw CPD as an important part of the teaching career; 2) the needs of teachers for CPD were high; 3) teachers do not have equal opportunities in CPD; 4) teachers were influenced by school administrators and education policy; 5) fmance is a major problem for teachers 'in CPD; 6) schools did not give enough support to teachers in CPD because the schools were lack of budget and planning, and school administrators viewed teacher development as an unimportant issue.Based on these findings, it is recommended that: the management system of CPD must be improved; follow,.up assessment activities should be conducted; opportunities of CPD should be widely opened to all teachers; and promotion, genuine supports, clear information and achievable incentives should be offered in order to encourage teachers to engage in continuing professional development

Symposium no. 62 Paper no. 1315 Presentation: oral 1315-1

Field experiments were tested on inner of newly constructed reservoir bank of four reservoirs (Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai and Mukdahan) which were constructed on laterite soil (Sakon soil series--Petroferric Haplustults loamy skeletal, mixed) at Kasetsart University Chalermprakiat Sakon Nakhon province campus. The circumference of each reservoir was divided into four segments and four ecotypes of vetiver grass were grown on different segments. These ecotypes of vetiver grass are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Sawan, Songkhla-3 and DLD 009. These vetiver grasses were obtained from Sakon Nakhon Land Development Station which belong to The Department of Land Development. About one month old of vetiver slip in plastic bag was used as planting material. The first vetiver row was grown at one meter above the highest water level mark. Then two more rows were planted above the first. The interplant spacing was 10 centimeters and vetiver was planted continuuously in a row. The inter-row spacing was 80 centimeters. After one month of planting, all vetiver grasses grown on the bank received urea fertilizer (46%N) at the rate of 125 kilograms per hectare. All vetiver grasses on reservoir banks of four reservoirs were planted during March 29 and April 29 of 1999. Other conservation practices were also installed on some reservoir banks which included cover cropping, mulching, waterways and diversion berms. Four kinds of cover crop (Calopogonium, Kudzu, Centronsema pubescen and Lablab bean) were grown in the area below the first row of vetiver grass on reservoir banks. Rice straw was used as mulching material and applied at the rate of 3.2 tons per hectare in the area between rows of vetiver grass. Diversion berms and waterways were practiced on the bank of two reservoirs. Th..

Recent progress in cassava agronomy research in Thailand

Cassava agronomy research in Thailand during 1994-1996 emphasized mainly erosion control, soil fertility maintenance and weed control. Regarding soil erosion control, the planting of cassava in April, at the start of the rainy season, and harvesting in March resulted in the highest soil loss compared with other planting dates. Planting at the start of the dry season in Dec and harvesting in Nov produced by far the highest cassava yield, while soil loss due to erosion was relatively low. Intercropping cassava with either peanut or pumpkin were found to be the best cropping systems to reduce erosion while also giving high gross incomes. Cassava planted on contour ridges at closer spacing (1.0x0.6 m) and with fertilizer application was the most promising package of cultural practices for reducing erosion and increasing yields. Soil fertility maintenance through the use of legumes grown for in-situ production of mulch was studied at Rayong Research Center. The highest yield of cassava, 46.17 t/ha, was obtained when Crotalaria juncea was planted as a green manure and mulched, followed by planting cassava, which was then harvested after 18 months. When Canavalia ensiformis was intercropped with cassava, cut at 2 months and left as a mulch, the yield of cassava, harvested at 12 months, was as high as that obtained with a high rate of chemical fertilizers. The sequential planting of fertilized Rayong 60 after unfertilized peanut, produced the highest yield at Kalasin in the Northeast. The cultivar Rayong 5 planted in either Sattahip or Banbung soils in the East produced a relatively high yield with application of 312 kg/ha of 15-15- 15 together with 100 kg of urea and 78 of KCl/ha. In the Northeast the application of 25-25-25 kg/ha of N, P2Os and K2O produced a significantly higher yield of Kasetsart 50, Rayong 5, Rayong 60 and Rayong 90 than without fertilizer application. Research on the long-term effect of soil management on cassava planted continuously for 15 years in Khon Kaen in the Northeast, showed that when cassava was rotated yearly with sequentially planted peanut and pigeonpea, this could maintain a relative cassava yield of 87 % of that obtained in the first year. Similarly, the application of soil amendments (lime, rock phosphates and compost), as well as that of soil amendments with chemical fertilizers, could reduce the rate of yield decrease over time. However, after 15 years of continuous cropping the cassava yields in all treatments were lower than those obtained in the first year. Research on the optimum period of weed control for Rayong 60 and Rayong 90, planted in both the early and late rainy seasons in the Northeast, indicate that both cultivars need to be free of weeds at least three months after planting in order to produce high yields

Recent progress in cassava agronomy research in Thailand

The paper reviews the available data and current activities on agronomic aspects of cassava in Thailand. These activities were carried out by various national research programs in collaboration with CIAT during 1990-1993. The review shows that the inherent fertility of cassava soils has been depleted due to long-term cassava monocropping without sufficient replacement of plant nutrients, and from degradative processes of soil erosion, root yields due to nutrient stress, water stress and top soil loss by erosion. Variability in production and income is a major characteristic of cassava cropping in Thailand. The challenge remains for research to take an integrated approach, involving all aspects of soil water, fertility and crop management in the program. Topics discussed include: a) erosion control; b) cropping practices; c) integrated plant nutrition systems; d) soil fertility evaluation; and e) efficient use of fertilizer