Abstract:
This study is aimed to investigate and found the relationships between the backgrounds and needs for further education of level four functional education students in Bangkok Metropolis. The population in this study consisted of level four functional education students in Bangkok Metropolis and were going to finish their education in academic year 2528, totaling 633 students. The number of those who want to further their education was 442 and the number of those who do not, was 191. The researcher collected the data by administering the questionnaires by herself. The obtained data was analyzed by percentage, Chi-square Test and Contingency Coefficient; C. Results: 1. The backgrounds of the students who need to further their education, which are the same as those who do not, mostly are female, single status, intended to further their functional education level 4 as the stepping stone for higher education. The purpose for seeking more education is to earn a well-paid career, security in the job, their attitude towards their education is that they should study vocational education so that they can find career as soon as they finish their education. The parents of the students and the students themselves are non-salary and unemployed. The students who have guardians, whose guardians have their own business, can earn more than 4,000 bahts. The payment which causes the most problem to the family is housing. There are 5-7 persons in one family, mostly are the second child of the family, have 1-2 elders and 1-2 youngers, still alive parents living together. The education of the parents are at the elementary education level. If their children want to have higher education ought to support themselves, most of them are satisfied with the Life Experience course, and the result of the compulsory subjects are passed. Very seldom the students would be absent because they have to go to work, no financial supporter. The factor of the need of furthering their education is the support from their parents. The parents should allow them to have their own decision in study. The students should always get consultation about the study from their parents. 2. The backgrounds of the students who need to further their education, which are different from those who do not, are as the following: 2.1 The students who need to further their education mostly are aged between 14-18 years, interested in scientific career, such as radio, and television technician. The status of the familys finance has just enough income for their living. The parents expectation towards their children is to finish lower secondary education level then further their education in the vocational area, and have scientific career. 2.2 The students who do not need to further their education mostly are aged between 19-23 years, no expectation for their job. The status of the familys finance has less income for their living. The parents expectation towards their children is to finish lower secondary education level, and no expectation about the career of their children. 3. The study of the relationships between the backgrounds and need for further education of the level four functional education students found that the marital status; age, intention to further their functional education level four, attitude towards study, expectation for their career, the status of economical family, kinds of payment which causes problems to the family, the idea of their parents towards their children, the expectation of their parents towards the educational level and kinds of careers of the children, the satisfied subjects, the absence of the students and the parents support are variables which related to the needs for further education at the level of significance .05 and contingency coefficient; C are at 0.12, 0.19, 0.24, 0.16, 0.23, 0.10, 0.17, 0.15, 0.26, 0.39, 0.16, 0.10 and 0.19 respectively. Another variables such as, sex, kinds of career and salary of the parents of the guardians, of the students, familys size, parents marital status, the educational level of their parents, the result of the compulsory subjects, educational supporter, frequency of the counsel and the counselor are variables which do not related to the needs for further education at the level of significance .05.