Thread: Thai schools have too many loopholes so can demand bribes

Minister sees loopholes in high school admission plan

SIRIKUL BUNNAG

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn says next year's public secondary school enrolment plan put forward by the Basic Education Commission has too many loopholes for schools to demand bribes from parents.

The 2008 enrolment plan landed on the minister's desk last week for his approval.

Mr Wijit said it was much like this year's enrolment plan, which allowed school managements to raise the number of students per class, increase the number of classes and have more than one round of enrolment. All these gaps gave school executives the chance to demand ''donations'' from parents to ensure the admission of their children.

''They exploit the additional quotas to get donations from parents,'' he said.

''Although there were not too many complaints about it this year, I want it to end completely,'' he said.

The minister wants the Office of the Basic Education Commission to improve the enrolment plan and to form an independent committee to supervise enrolment at secondary schools, especially the special admission quotas.

He said school managements should clarify the criteria of their special admission quotas and publicly justify the admission of each and every student under these quotas.

He agrees with the commission's proposal to allow popular schools to admit local students either by drawing of lots or by an entrance examination, or a combination of both.

Currently, drawing of lots is the only way for local students to gain admission.

Allowing exams would allow students and parents to focus on studies rather than depending on luck and schools would get more capable students.

The minister sees no problems for students who do not pass the examination.

There was enough room at other schools. Under the proposed 2008 enrolment plan secondary schools will allocate at least 50% of their seats to local students, while the quota of students from other localities is set at a maximum 50%. The admission quota for students with special abilities is 5% of total seats.

The commission proposed that schools be allowed to increase the size of classes from 40 to 45 pupils. Or they can increase the number of classes to welcome students to be admitted under special quotas, which fall into three categories: children of long-standing school sponsors, children of those contributing to schools from their foundation stage, and underprivileged children.

Bangkok Post