Education Minister moves school tests to clear way for election

In another indication that the government is firming up the date of the next general election for February 24 next year, the Education Minister has formerly moved the date of the annual school and university-entrance aptitude tests back one week.

The GAT/PAT (General Aptitude Test and Professional and Academic Aptitude Test) tests for pre-university students will be held one week earlier to avoid clashing with the election day.

Education Minister Thirakiart Charoensetthasilp said the meeting of the university rectors today resolved to move forward the GAT/PAT tests to February 16-19 otherwise the tests may affect the Thailand University Central Admission System (TCAS) tests.

He said he had instructed the Office of the Basic Education Commission to order all schools under its supervision to rearrange the teaching classes and final tests of upper secondary education students to be completed within February 15 or sooner so that the students can attend the GAT/PAT tests on February 16-19.

The meeting of the university rectors also raised to the attention of Mr Thirakiart the technical problem regarding the TCAS system which often collapsed.

Moreover, it was pointed out during the meeting by the rectors that there were still more than 300 schools which were yet to submit the reports about their Prathomsueksa 6 students to the council of rectors for assessments.

Mr Surakiart said directors of the schools which were yet to file reports about their students would be told to have the reports submitted to the rectors within November 16 or they will be held accountable for disciplinary violation.

SOURCE: Thai PBS