抄録
In Thailand, where guaranteeing the right to educational opportunities is an important policy issue, participating in equivalency programs, which legally guarantee compatibility between formal education and non-formal education, is one of the ways to accommodate those who have not completed basic education. Equivalency programs play a role in complementing formal education and function as a place to guarantee basic education for those who are marginalized from formal education. On the other hand, equivalency programs that aim to connect people to Thai society through education may also lead to the propagation of oppressive structures in mainstream society. What is the unique significance of equivalency programs for people who are marginalized from formal education? In this study, through interviews and participant observation in the field, the alternative value of equivalency programs in Thailand was clarified from the perspective of the field.
This study clarified the following three points:
1) Equivalency programs have become a means for non-Thais who could not attend school to gain better living conditions in Thai society. 2) For learners who were unable to adapt to school life and dropped out, equivalency programs allowed them to gain a critical perspective on the so-called “mainstream” society by exposing them to learning methods and teacher models that were different from those used in school education. 3) It was also revealed that the flexibility of equivalency programs, which is not seen in school education, is perceived by learners as a place where they can “start over.”
These features of equivalency programs in Thailand might also be beneficial for Japan, where there are still many foreign children not attending school.(273 words)
