Burapha University student Pakinai Chomsinsapman started a hunger strike outside Parliament yesterday to protest over college autonomy.

Headmasters said yesterday offers of "tea money" - or bribes - were a "worrying problem during admissions time".

The Education Ministry recently banned schools from accepting donations during pupil admissions.

Suranaree Wittaya School headmaster Silpasit Taptipthongchai said the school could accept 480 new students each year but more than 500 "well-connected" people had offered "huge amounts of cash to secure places for their children".

"It frustrates me. It's not easy to say 'no' because these people are heads of local government units, businessmen, reporters and national and local politicians. Many of them have been making donations to the school for a long time," he said.

And some wealthy and influential people were offering tea money to several schools at the same time, the headmaster said.

Silpasit welcomed the ministry regulation.

He could ensure eligible students would secure their rightful spots at the school.

Ratchasima Wittayalai School principal Udom Phromphanjai concurred, saying he had been approached by more than 100 parents offering money for places for their children.

"We hope they understand the ministry's ban," he said.

Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University rector Chungchot Pantuvej said "donations" were hard to eradicate because state-school budgets were tight and they relied on support from parents and elsewhere.

Many well-connected people approached the university each year with the same aim, the rector said.