They are busy struggling to secure seats in quality secondary schools for their children.

There is a secret that no one ever tells you. If the government falls today, or the stock market crashes, people like me who are at "that" juncture in their lives couldn't care less. Yes, if you have an 11-year-old kid who is changing schools, you'll know what I mean.

Although the admissions period has just started, with the public-school admission process running from March 15 to April 8, most parents started running around much earlier. To set the record straight, many "full-time" parents began preparing for this period a few years back, while the "last-minute" group, myself included, has just been alerted that the deadline is approaching.

One would assume that preparation means just exhausting the kids with special tuition schools on weekends and after regular school hours. (I'm not sure whether my daughter should thank me for not taking her to one). Yet there is more. My friend, an alumna of a favourite demonstration school, told me that even alumnae members had to spend a whole year or more on all sorts of school activities to ensure their offspring stands a better chance. "This way, you show your determination, they say," she said.

That's beyond my knowledge and ability!

In brief, they are all old problems that have remained throughout the three decades that have passed since I sat for the same test. Now, it is my kid's turn and the vicious circle of bribery or "tea money", along with favouritism being accorded to "well-connected" and influential parents, still remains part of the process. Sad to say, everything has worsened and become more complicated for today's children than it was for their parents. So the best non-privileged parents can do is to take their children to sit for as many tests as possible, adding more stress for both kids and parents.

Another friend of mine, who has no children, asked me an interesting question, because she felt that my little one and I were in this whole enrolment craze: "What if you have a daughter who's not good at school and you don't have money [for private school], what can you do?"

"I don't really know," I said. "I guess I would have to run around and write a petition to the government if she failed all the tests, and try to get her into one of the public schools near my house."

On the brighter side, the Education Ministry has just banned public schools from accepting donations and "tea money" during the admissions process. The ministry also intends to take action if any school doesn't abide by the regulations. And when Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an insisted that, "Admission must be conducted with equality", his statement was like a drop of medicine applied to a chronic wound.

Never mind that past governments have failed to institute education reforms. Never mind that the five education ministers that served during the Thaksin administration's five-and-a-half years in power did nothing for education reforms. At least Wijit is bold enough to pledge to tackle the task and has demonstrated a strong will to cure the disease, which has accumulated over several decades. It is indeed a brave act, for bringing equality to the admissions process is certainly going to be an uphill battle - it's as tough as fighting corruption.

Whether the regulation bears fruit or not, it certainly makes nervous parents like me feel a bit at ease. It's like sending your child into a fair competition.

There has been big applause from headmasters too, especially those from popular schools. They are relieved because they will have a reasonable excuse to offer when turning down the offspring of well-connected people seeking placement for their offspring.

The headmaster at Bangkok's Samsen Wittayalai school said the pressure from powerful parents was so bad that sometimes he and his predecessor became sick and went to hospital during the admissions period. Nakhon Ratchasima's top school, Suranaree Wittaya, has to cope with around 500 influential people who want to squeeze their children into a school where the quota is 480. And over 100 parents have already offered money for places for their children at Ratchasima Wittayalai, another top school in the province.

 Now you know why the poor get poorer and how the poor yet brainy children are unlikely to be groomed to become valuable human resources for the country. Ask yourself: how many genius kids have you come across in newspapers who come from poor families? This little step towards admissions equality is crucial if the government wants to fulfil its ultimate plans to reform the education system. Available resources should be used transparently, cost effectively and wisely, and go directly to the children.

Personally, I feel that this first step by the ministry is very worthwhile. If it really works, it would show us that ideas like equality and non-discrimination are not far-fetched.

When you have to explain to your children that you are powerless and can't guarantee a seat in a top school, they might learn the dark side of the real world. They might take the meaning, "If my parents are rich and influential or rank high in government offices, I would surely get a place in any school". This may be how the vicious circle of patron-client relationships, and money politics, starts.

It's a sad but true fact that, no matter how hard they try, the children, including my daughter, who will sit for admissions tests will, unknowingly, have to compete against over-privileged kids who have already secured placements before any examinations start.

It is another secret that we parents will not tell our little ones until we have passed this juncture.

Veena Thoopkrajae