How much GPA do you get?. Review on Tips on Examinations

Entrance, the door that once opened is now closing….

“How much GPA do you get?” will be the criteria for the university Entrance in the near future.

It began with doubt, shock and worry. Once the new form of university admission was announced, some parents started to feel anxious..

“A public survey is needed to be done before using this realization” said Dr. Kamolpan Chivapansri, a dentist, who set up https://parent-youth.net to be the on-line voice of all parents

Thailand has always received a notorious reputation within Asia for difficult University entrance examinations and that a 0.5 score can beat other candidates, as there are more than 100,000 students in the competition each year.

The winners will be able to sit proudly in Chulalongkorn, Thammasat or other leading provincial universities’ lecture hall. The unsuccessful candidates have no choice but to enroll at an expensive private University or less famous Open University and statistically may have difficulty in finding work after graduation.

That’s why students, teachers, parents and universities are now preparing for this “rush” policy from the Ministry of Education.

From early 2006, the weight of high school student’s GPA, as a part of University admission of an overall score, will be increased by 10 % for 3 consecutive years.

“Chances to get into the University, for me, are less and less” said Porncharoen Danjan, an M6 (Grade 12) student in Thepbodint Chiang Mai School.

From the student’s point of view, different school’s standards are one of the most severe problems. The student continued that now we can not count on the GPA anymore. “In less famous schools, teachers are tending to beautify their students’ grades just to help. Moreover, a cognitive domain or Jitpisai is augmented by 20 % of overall score, how can we assess the real ability of the student? I am absolutely unhappy with this”.

“Just one score is vital for me, if the Japanese major in CMU can admit only eight persons this year. So, my sport and fine arts subjects’ score can ruin my life” said Ubonwan Ittsaneekul, a high school student, who is poor at physical education and music.

Apinartha Mahawongsanan, an M3 (Grade 9) student of Samakkhi Wittayakom School which is the best schools in Chiang Rai has to put more effort in the next year, as his GPA will be calculated from M4-6. In 2009, the weight of GPA will be 50%.

“I think I have to look for cramming schools now. Moreover, I must be a good boy and please all my teachers in order to have a straight `A´s in my transcript” he said.

This boy dreams of becoming a medical doctor. If he can not get all `A´s, He will have to apply for direct admission which are available at Chulalongkorn Medical School and Siriraj Medical School of Mahodol University.

Not only the medical schools are not approve this criteria but many faculties in leading Universities also admitting students by direct admission and sidelining the use of GPA.

Suntree Kontiang, Assistant Professor at Chiang Mai University, an expert on educational reform said “The policy makers always try to copy the pattern from other countries, but they never take into consideration any aspects of failure”.

She also expressed her concern that the new system creates competitive atmosphere among children.

“The goal of education has gone awry, we want the kids to learn, not to compete. Competition is a destruction of relationship, all kids could become selfish. Worse, still some of them might cheat at examinations to get the highest possible mark”.

Suntree added that if the Government wants see the students concentrating on their study in class, a passing grade to apply for the university should be set up and eligible students when taking an Entrance exam must have 2.5 of GPA above, for example.

“If the Government really wants to equate the opportunity for upcountry students, a special quota should be provided, but this kind of policy affects all students in the country” suggested Dr. Kamolpan.