CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ISLAMIC SCHOOLING IN THAILAND
Abstract
This article reports on an international community service program conducted at Santiwit School, Songkhla, Thailand, that aimed at supporting holistic student development in a faith-based elementary school context. The partner institution is a private Islamic school implementing the Thai national curriculum integrated with Islamic values, with many of its students residing in a school dormitory. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, this community service program was implemented over two months through stages of observation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reflection. Structured, routine-based, and some mentoring activities, including Hello Morning, Evening Light, ABC Fun Club, Friday Burdah, Move and Clean, and Khotmil Quran, were designed collaboratively with the school stakeholders. The findings indicate remarkable, positive changes in students’ daily discipline, literacy skills, religiosity, social inclusivity, and environmental awareness. Ultimately, the study also demonstrates that participatory and context-sensitive community service programs can effectively support holistic education while simultaneously promoting long-term institutional sustainability and intercultural understanding.
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