Education sandbox policy management strategy for developing the quality of education sustainably

Sompong Palachai, Rungchatchadaporn Vehachart, Sinchai Suwanmanee, Suntaree Wannapairoh and Kaweechate Pia

African Educational Research Journal
Published: January 22 2026
Volume 14, Issue 1
Pages 33-38
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18340507

Abstract

This research aimed to study, develop, and evaluate an education sandbox policy management strategy for sustainable educational quality development. A mixed-methods research design was employed, conducted in three phases. Phase 1 investigated current policy management conditions through document analysis and synthesized strategic issues using an inductive approach. Phase 2 focused on strategy formulation using SWOT and TOWS matrix analyses. The draft strategies were validated for appropriateness and consistency through a focus group discussion with nine experts, followed by verification with three experts and a sustainability assessment by five experts. Phase 3 involved evaluating the developed strategies' appropriateness and feasibility using a questionnaire administered to 120 participants, including provincial education officers, educational service area directors, and pilot school directors in education sandbox areas. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The findings revealed that the education sandbox policy management strategy comprises six main strategic dimensions and 31 sub-strategies, covering key areas such as educational innovation development, inequality reduction, area-based management, and decentralization. The overall evaluation indicated that the developed strategies hold the highest level of appropriateness and feasibility. These findings provide a practical framework for policymakers and educational administrators to enhance school autonomy and educational quality in sandbox areas.

Keywords: Education sandbox, policy management, decentralization, strategic management, sustainable educational quality.

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