Thai Universities Agree To Start Academic Year Later From 2014

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EDUCATION

Universities agree to start academic year later from 2014

Chuleeporn Aramnet

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) yesterday resolved to postpone the start of the academic year to August or September from 2014 onward.

The move is aimed at bringing the schedule in line with those of other Southeast Asian nations and Europe.

The CUPT, which has 24 universities as members, convened its meeting yesterday. Presently, most Thai universities start the academic year in June.

"When the schedule is postponed, students will graduate about three months later," CUPT president Somkit Lertpaithoon said. He is also the rector of Thammasat University.

For the 2014 academic year, the first round of the general aptitude test (GAT) will take place in early March 2014. The GAT results will be announced on April 10, 2014. The second round will be held between May 10 and May 13 that same year. The results will be announced on June 7.

Universities must submit the list of successful applicants from their direct admission intake to the Association of University Presidents of Thailand (AUPT) in time for its admission-results announcement on April 30, 2014. Successful applicants must reconfirm their wish to enter their chosen institute between May 6 and May 11, 2014.

Through the reconfirmation, they will lose any right to apply to higher-education institutions under the central-admissions system.

CUPT will sell application forms for the central-admissions system between June 5 and June 18, 2014. Applications can be submitted from June 8 to June 18 the same year. Applications must be paid by June 20. The announcement of results will come out on July 4, 2014.

"Professional councils have expressed willingness to adjust their exam-for-license schedule if the start of the semester is postponed," Somkit said.

-- The Nation 2012-08-27

[MaxLee]

Oh my god, to make it on par with ASEAN and Europe???

Why the change? Doesn't the education ministries of Thailand have more important things to do???

Does it mean you will have classes from Fmarch and April during the Songkran days???

[chotthee]

Thailand is in the center of ASEAN.

Bangkok will be the capital of ASEA.

Thailand have our own language culture and history.

ASEAN should move their school terms forward to be alight with Thailand (not the other way round).

Don't forget that our Thai Songkran is celebrated not only in Thailand, but also in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Northern Malaysia, Southern China, etc.

[sprq]

Foolish, nay ridiculous, submission to a timetable dictated by the climate of the temperate north. Thailand's traditional academic calendar is a response to the local climate, and should stay that way.

[MrBrad]

This makes sense from the point of view of students who wish to study abroad. They would have completed a school year of study here before departing. The return for additional study in Thailand would also then be in sync. The same could be done for high schools to align start schedules with much of the rest of the world.

And, lest Songkrahn interfere, they could still take a couple weeks off in mid-April, and extend the end of the school year into June an additional 2 weeks.

[MaxLee]

Imagine, if the poor kids have to have intensive classes in the peak hot season in Songkran?... Do you think they'll survive that???

Government officials are meant for only one purpose: to make things harder for the citizens of society...

[belg]

when sync the thai government schools with european calendar, would make this easier to befriend the rich farang who's kids are in international school

looooooooooooooooool

[Scott]

Aren't they going to have to adjust the school year for Mathyom students (and grade school)? Otherwise the whole system will be out of sync.

[thunder30101]

This decision is long overdue, the current thai school year is a mess for students, parents and teachers, only lazy farang teachers will complain about the change. How can thai students be expected to compete with other asean countries with such a messed up schedule so out of sync with their neighbors and the rest of the world, oh wait I forgot we are thai. I for one will be totally happy with it.

[NowImEasy]

A great idea. The Universties can have their "spring break" for Songkran. Then it would be very similar to the orgy in America during spring break. Sorry, I don't know if other western countries have a similar spring break. Do they?

[stefb1964]

The only advantage I'm willing to see here is that the European and American students easily can come over to study here as well as the Thai and expat students can connect more easily with the universities abroad.

Not only the farang students coming to study here, but all the students will be suffering when having to study in the heat of the summer season. Good luck with it..

I wonder when the rest of the schools will implement the Euro/American scholastic year...

This seems like a bad idea to me. They'd better keep their system aligned with the season here. That would make sense.

[siampreggers]

Thought this was all going to happen for primary and secondary (high school) schools from 2015 as part of ASEAN syncing.

Not much option but to change the Uni schedule unless they wanted the highschool students to finish thier final year and have to wait 10 months for the next uni year to begin.

[sunkist]

Unless my seasons are turned around not having school start until end of August or Sept. is moving out of the hottest summer months of June and July? This is not the first hot place I lived...went to school in one before AC came into use. Also went to school in Alaska...kids here are used to the heat. Alligning the school year with the rest of the world is a good thing in my opinion. My daughter will appreciate it when she goes to college.

[siampreggers]

I wonder when the rest of the schools will implement the Euro/American scholastic year...

2015, as ruled by ASEAN.

[roars1111]

The move is aimed at bringing the schedule in line with those of other Southeast Asian nations and Europe.

The CUPT, which has 24 universities as members, convened its meeting yesterday. Presently, most Thai universities start the academic year in June.

"When the schedule is postponed, students will graduate about three months later," CUPT president Somkit Lertpaithoon said. He is also the rector of Thammasat University.

For the 2014 academic year, the first round of the general aptitude test (GAT) will take place in early March 2014. The GAT results will be announced on April 10, 2014. The second round will be held between May 10 and May 13 that same year. The results will be announced on June 7.

Universities must submit the list of successful applicants from their direct admission intake to the Association of University Presidents of Thailand (AUPT) in time for its admission-results announcement on April 30, 2014. Successful applicants must reconfirm their wish to enter their chosen institute between May 6 and May 11, 2014.

Through the reconfirmation, they will lose any right to apply to higher-education institutions under the central-admissions system.

[MrBrad]

Unless my seasons are turned around not having school start until end of August or Sept. is moving out of the hottest summer months of June and July? This is not the first hot place I lived...went to school in one before AC came into use. Also went to school in Alaska...kids here are used to the heat. Alligning the school year with the rest of the world is a good thing in my opinion. My daughter will appreciate it when she goes to college.

[Jimjim]

Imagine, if the poor kids have to have intensive classes in the peak hot season in Songkran?... Do you think they'll survive that???

Government officials are meant for only one purpose: to make things harder for the citizens of society...

Plenty of kids do this already in Thailand in International Schools and get along just fine. All the international schools I taught at ran on a Western school calendar and it wasn't a huge deal. The week of Songkran, of course, we had a break just like anywhere else. As long as the schools have aircon it will be fine.

Aren't they going to have to adjust the school year for Mathyom students (and grade school)? Otherwise the whole system will be out of sync.

No, I would not think so. It just means once you leave grade 12 you will have a bit longer break until you start uni. Not a big deal at all. In fact, I don't think they should change it as during the hottest months there are too many schools from K-12 in Thailand that don't have air conditioning and only use fans. So they should just keep it this way and it means when you graduate from grade 12 you are rewarded with a longer break than usual before you have to start university.

Edited August 29, 2012 by Jimjim

[richard10365]

I think the graduating Thai high school students will have a long summer prior to going to the university. They usually graduate in March and in 2014 will not start school until August. It's a nice vacation. Another report I read on this subject (about 6 months ago) primary and secondary schools will not change their schedules. Only higher education will change.

[culicine]

I think the graduating Thai high school students will have a long summer prior to going to the university. They usually graduate in March and in 2014 will not start school until August. It's a nice vacation. Another report I read on this subject (about 6 months ago) primary and secondary schools will not change their schedules. Only higher education will change.

Our M6 finish late January / early February - that's a 5/6 month break. I hope they can keep themselves occupied for that length of time.

[KhaoNiaw]

KMUTT and Bangkok University have already started following the new calendar this year.