The complainants blamed the O-Net/A-Net admissions fiasco for upsetting their educational opportunities.

All of them were on a waiting list for the faculty, but when

relevant authorities revised the O-Net (Ordinary National Educational Test) and A-Net (Advanced National Educational Test) scores earlier this month, none secured a seat despite many other applicants giving up the opportunity.

The vacant places were instead filled by applicants who found out later their scores were higher than the minimum accepted.

The first two rounds of O- and A-Net score announcements were voided because there were so many errors.

All institutes that have announced lists of successful candidates amid the ongoing fiasco have promised to admit students who get higher than the minimum scores required for acceptance.

One complainant, Kallayanee Suwankoot, said yesterday: "I registered as an alternate and had already undergone the check-up required by the medical school. I had no idea that I would end up not getting a seat here."

She said she had given up a seat at the Faculty of Pharmacology at another institute because she believed she had a good chance of entering Ubon Ratchathani University's Faculty of Medicine.

One father, Somkid Silakupt, said he could not agree with the faculty's decision to select 22 more applicants - but reject his son, Panuwat, who was already sixth on the alternate name list.

"I advised my son to give up his right to other institutes because I totally believed he could make it here. Without the O-Net/A-Net fiasco, my son would not end up in such a trouble," Somkid said.

He vowed to petition to Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang to ensure justice for "alternates" like his son.

Ubon Ratchathani University president Prakob Wirojanakud explained the university could not admit the alternate students because there were applicants with scores higher than them.

"Actually, we have the capacity to seat only 48 new medical students this year but as the revised score announcement shows there are 22 other applicants with scores higher than the minimum we originally accepted, so we are obliged to admit them too," he said.

Prakob said he was still wondering how the university could pay for the extra students' education.

"Even though there will be some successful applicants giving up their right, it's unlikely that the number will be as many as 22," he said.

In a related development, the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) said successful applicants under its direct-admission system must decide whether they will stick with their choice or try again under the central admission system.

OHEC announced the applicants eligible for interviews under its direct-admission system on Tuesday. The interviews ran from yesterday until today.

"The students must confirm their choices at the interviews. With their confirmation, we will not consider their applications for the central admissions system," OHEC secretary general Pavich Thongroj said.

OHEC is scheduled to announce the list of successful applicants eligible for interviews under the central admission system on Wednesday.