Opinions of children and youth in the 3 southern border provinces on their livelihoods in the current situation

The objectives of this research are to study opinions on the lifestyles and participation of children and youth and to compare the opinions of children and youth with various matters in their schools, homes and communities. The sample used in this research is comprised of 2,669 children and youth studying at the high school level in the three southern border provinces Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The data were collected by questionnaire. The statistics used in data analysis were descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The levels of opinion on livelihoods and participation in matters of school, home and community were analyzed by relationships with personal factors of children and youth by category analysis. The research results found that most of the children and youth in the sample were female Muslim students from a school in Narathiwat Province. While studying, they lived at home with their father or mother. The predominant family characteristic was single or nuclear family. They agreed on their opinion levels concerning a good school environment, good teaching and learning, freedom of expression and rights and good home and community conditions. The relationships between personal factors and the level of opinions in four characteristics were that accommodations for children and youth while studying had associated to their opinions in all characteristics. The opinions of children and youth who stayed with parents were more in agreement than with others who did not stay with their parents. In addition, gender and family characteristics also were related opinions about good homes and community conditions.