Dishonesty learned straight from the horse's mouth

Nothing effective is done to right what they have done, so they sail on with impunity.

With blatant examples of delinquent behaviour like this to follow, it is hardly surprising the country is a rat's nest of corruption and dishonest behaviour. So until punishments are sufficiently severe and not simply suspended jail terms and transfers to inactive posts, the country will continue its inexorable slide to being a complete basket case.

JOHN PATTERSON

BANGKOK

Ask telecoms firms if competition was fair

Thaksin was a fantastic businessman? Or a charlatan, a cheat and a manipulator? I wish newspapers could ask DTAC and True what they experienced during the years Thaksin was in office as prime minister. Was it fair and equal business conditions for all? Or did Thaksin's company AIS get advantages? DTAC and True, are you willing to tell? And do they dare tell?

HAPPY DTAC CALLER

CHON BURI

Examinations require student thought input

Re: "Complex questions hit score averages", News, December 14.

Judging from this education article, there is a move in the right direction in the national university testing system. There were several comments about the latest test questions requiring students to think and produce answers themselves. But the weakness of the system was revealed in the comment by a chemistry tutor. She is reported to have suggested that the number of questions should be reduced from 123 to 100. Now come on, at 1.4 minutes per question this is a test of speed reading rather than of understanding or knowledge.

Contrast that with the British examinations which form the basis for university entrance. In those exams, students have to answer six to eight questions in three hours. One question requires the student to know and understand something about the topic of the question. A common form of question in physics is to ask for the definition of a specialist term, require the student to describe an experiment to measure it, then supply data and require the student to do related calculations. To answer this form of question requires understanding of the topic of the question, as well as a reasonable ability at written communication. On top of that, add that we also had a practical examination - two experiments to do and write up in three hours, and students who got good marks in an A-level subject had to have a good foundation of understanding of the subject.

How long before we see the Thai system moving in that direction so that the standard of school education is up to world standards?

GARETH CLAYTON

BANGKOK