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Published on August 28, 2007

Obec last week unveiled a plan to allow state schools to hold entrance exams to admit children living nearby while continuing to reserve 50 per cent of places for them.

So far, drawing of lots has been the only method used to select neighbourhood children for admission.

The rest of the seats in the schools would be up for grabs among children from all areas if they pass a separate entrance exam.

"We are going to present the new plan to Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn," Obec secretary general Khunying Kasama Varawarn said yesterday.

She said public hearings would then be held for information that could be used to help make decisions.

Kasama was giving an interview after some parents expressed concerns that the plan to hold entrance exams would diminish the chances

of their children being able

to study at a school close to their homes, and of children with poor academic performances to enter a good-quality school.

According to Kasama, the new plan was meant to prevent bright students from having their academic progress slowed down after attending the same classes as children with poorer academic performance who were admitted to thier schools through drawing of lots.

"Some students become less active in such circumstances," she explained.

The main ideas for change came from a seminar held by top education officials and executives from office of education service areas and the executives of the most popular schools in June.

School representatives described the drawing of lots as useless in developing children's potential.

At the seminar, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn also commented that drawing lots was pinning people's hope on luck - something that should not be associated with education.

Chularat Saengpassa

 The Nation