The National Institute of Education Testing Service (NIETS) revealed on Tuesday that 310,000 students took the O-Net exams, which yielded astonishingly low scores (all out of 100 marks), including a '0' in Thai Language and Mathematics, a '1.25' in Sciences, a '5' in Social Studies, and a '9' in English Language.

NIETS director, Prof Uthumphorn Jamornman, said the average scores were slightly better than last year's, except in Social Studies where the average score of 37.94 was lower compared to last year's 42.64.

She said the four students obtaining '0' scores were a disabled student from Mae Hong Son, a Nonthaburi student, and a Pattani student, who gave completely wrong answers in mathematics, and a Nong Khai student who gave all the wrong answers in Thai Language subject.

Although NIETS reported that the low average scores in the five subjects stemmed from some students' lack of attention, Wijit said the low scores were because of the poor quality of teaching and learning in the educational system.

He said such low scores were in line with a quality assessment report by the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, which had revealed some 15,000 schools badly need quality improvements.

"Having four students with '0' scores is extremely rare and unusual. It reflects problems in Thai education especially the teaching quality," Wijit said, adding, the ministry would check on the students' schools.

Students can check their O-Net results today at their schools, 18 examination centres and websites [www.niets.or.th, www.tispa.co.th, www.samarts.com, www.anet.net.th and www.inet.co.th] or call (02) 576 5555 and (02) 576 5777.

NIETS last month announced the Advanced National Educational Test (A-Net) results, which also shocked the public with very low scores in many subjects including 2.5 mark in Social Studies 2, 4 in Thai language 2, and 7 in English language 2.

NIETS senior official Sasithorn Ahingso said that since the A-Net results announcement on March 30, about 1,000 students had requested to re-check their A-Net scores with the exam papers, while some claimed a website kept giving different score results.

So far, 300 students had checked their exam papers and found no fault in their scores, Sasithorn said.

A Triam Udom Pattanakan School student, Pranthorn Saengreung, said she checked her maths scores online twice.

The first time it showed 29, and the second time it was 35, so she requested a re-check, which confirmed her true score as 35.

Supinda Na Mahachai

The Nation