Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni), one of the country's most prestigious schools, was apparently the most popular choice among students this year. As of Monday, it had received 3,596 applications, the most in the country. This number was more than seven times higher than the available seats - just 472.

State secondary schools began accepting student applications last Friday, up till yesterday.

While state schools offer up to 852,525 seats and should be able to accommodate all would-be secondary students, getting a seat at a popular school was highly competitive.

In Bangkok, another popular school was Satriwithaya II. It received 2,820 applications, nearly five times more than its available seats (570).

The Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School had 2,477 applications for just 556 seats.  At the Suan Kularb Wittayalai School, the number of applicants totalled 2,435 while the school offered just 400 seats.

At the Horwang School, there were 2,171 applicants and just 440 seats available. At the Satriwithaya School, the number of applicants was 2,139 with only 400 seats available.

The Saravithaya School had 1,950 applicants, more than three for every available place - 560.

At the Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) II School, there were 1,896 applicants and just 400 seats available. And the Rittiyawannalai School attracted 1,757 applicants for its 600 seats.

At the Samsen Wittayalai School, the number of applicants was 1,766 for the school's 360 seats.

At the Suksanaree School, the number of applicants stood at 1,745 while the school had only 480 seats.

The most popular secondary school in the country was Nakhon Sawan School in the central province, which attracted the second largest number of applications - 3,562.

The third largest number of applications was reported at the Hat Yai Wittayalai School in Songkhla, with 3,295.

The fourth largest number of applications was reported at Surat Pittaya School in Surat Thani, with 2,914.

Basic Education Commission secretary general Khunying Kasama Varawarn said yesterday if parents found anything suspicious about a school's intake of students, they could lodge a complaint with her office.

The Education Ministry vowed recently to seriously crack down on the practice - common at some well-known schools - of accepting "tea money" from parents in exchange for school seats.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, Suranaree Wittaya School director Sillapasit Taptimthongchai said local businessmen, senior government officials, politicians, media members and other high-profile figures in the province contacted him every year to ask for a favour in admitting children. "Every year, I receive requests to give special favours for about 500 children," he said.

He admitted he felt uncomfortable because some people had known him for a long time and had supported the school. "I plan to explain to them about the ministry's policy. I hope they will understand, though of course they will be disappointed," Sillapasit said.

Supinda na Mahachai

The Nation