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Published on August 24, 2007

"Instead of drawing lots, schools may hold entrance exams," secretary-general Kasama Varawarn said yesterday.

Most schools would still take in children only from their communities, she said.

Only popular schools can allocate 50 per cent of vacant seats to outside applicants. Last year, 324 schools across the country were categorised as "popular" but their number may be reduced this year.

The schools must inform the commission of reasons why they want to hold entrance exams, if they choose this method over lot drawing.

"We believe not many schools will choose entrance exams, though," she said.

The proposal would also change the qualifying criteria for neighbourhood children. Currently, neighbourhood children are those whose names have appeared in household registrations within the school's catchment for at least two years. The household registrations must also identify parents or grandparents as the homeowners.

In the proposal, parents and grandparents do not have to be identified as homeowners in household registrations.

"But they may be required to present other supporting evidence that they have indeed lived in the school district. The location of their old schools count," Kasama said.

Schools would be allowed to reserve up to 5 per cent of available seats for children with special talents or who meet special admission conditions, such as coming from disaster zones.

Kasama said she would finalise the proposal and submit it to Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn next week.