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Published on July 29, 2007

It has demanded the scrapping of a plan for Onets to cover eight subjects between 2007 and 2009.

It asked for an explanation of the exam changes and said failure to respond to its 10-point statement would result in it rallying and delivering a 10,000-signature objection to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on August 14.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Varakorn Samkoses said the students had "misunderstand the issue".

Yesterday the group gathered at the October 14 Memorial Monument to question the sincerity of education reforms.

The group issued a second statement objecting to an increase in Onet subjects from five to eight.

The original subjects are mathematics, Thai language, social science, English and science. The new subjects are arts, vocational skills and physical education.

Onet scores are the main criteria in determining grade-12 graduates' positions at higher-education institutions.

A leading member, grade-12 student Napat Channuan of Wat Nairong School, said the network's first statement on June 19 had been ignored.

Napat said the network had gathered 10,000 student names via the website sornorsor.com/onet2550.

If the network does not receive an explanation within seven days it will carry out its threatened protest.

Of the 10 points, the first is a postponement of the increase in exam subjects until 2010 so "schools and students can prepare for change".

It wants the National Institute of Educational Testing Service to scrap a "still-unclear policy" for Mathayom-3 students to take Onets next year and wants Onets cancelled in three subjects for Pathom-6 pupils.

The network asked the service to make public how much its spent arranging examinations.

It called on the Cabinet to make education reform a priority in national development.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an was called on to accept responsibility for abrupt changes to exam procedure and to give three years' warning of future policy changes.

Before implementing new policies the ministry should seek student opinion as well as that of parents and teachers "according to their constitutional rights", it said.

The group sought a solution to university-entrance exam difficulties, including those facing students wanting to shift to other disciplines, those having failed in previous years and those who did not sit Onet exams during their graduation year.

It demanded a fair system of access for all to higher education.

Varakorn said the eight-subject Onet tested the standards and learning of Prathom 6 students as well as those of Mathayom 6 students.

He insisted test results had nothing to do with university entrance exams.

He said students had a right to submit their 10,000-signature objections.