Engineering students from the direct admission system have demonstrated greater academic performances than those coming from the central admission system, according to an extensive research.
"The average scores of the centraladmissionsystem students are lower in subjects like calculus, chemistry, physics and computer," Assoc Prof Dr Sermkiat Jomjanyong said as the chairman of the Deans of Engineering Faculties.
He also heads the project conducting research on the academic performances of engineering students recruited through the direct admission system as opposed to those coming from the central admission system.
"The rate of engineering students leaving universities due to grades lower than the minimum requirement or very poor grade is also higher among the students coming from the central admission system," Sermkiat said, "It's 15.64 per cent higher".
The research covered engineering students at Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Khon Kaen University, Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thon Buri, Suranaree University of Technology, Naresuan University, Mahidol University, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok.
According to the research, the students coming from the direct admission system usually boasted a higher grade point average (GPAX) at seniorsecondary years than those recruited through the central admission system.
Sermkiat said the Deans of Engineering Faculties were now convinced that the criteria for the central admission system in relation to the engineering students should be adjusted from the 2013 Academic Year onward.
"GPAX and the Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) scores should carry a weight of 10 per cent each," Sermkiat said.
He said the General Aptitude Test (Gat) should have 20percent weight, the Professional Aptitude Test for Engineering 50percent weight, and the Professional Aptitude Test for Math 20percent weight.
Sermkiat said he would present this formula to the Education Ministry and the University Presidents Council of Thailand (UPCT) within the next few weeks.
The UPCT has worked with relevant agencies including the National Educational Testing Service in holding the central universityadmission system.
"We hope UPCT will take our research's findings into account when preparing the criteria for central admission system from the 2013 Academic Year onward," Sermkiat said.
He said if the UPCT ignored the findings, the Faculties of Engineering would allocate between 80 and 90 per cent of their seats to applicants from the directadmission system.
"By then, only 10 or 20 per cent of our seats will be given to successful candidates from the central admission system," Sermkiat said.