Exam Cheating: Thai Dept Education Minister Suspects Papers Were Leaked

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EXAM CHEATING
Deputy Minister suspects papers were leaked
SAOWANEE NIMPANPAYUNGWONG
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
The Nation



486 test-takers got full or near full marks; DSI to conclude its investigation on March 18

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanich suspects assistant teacher exam papers were leaked after 486 test-takers in 60 provinces received a full score or a nearly full score.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is probing the suspected exam corruption and will conclude its investigation on March 18.

Some test-takers reportedly paid Bt200,000-Bt300,000 to gangs to help them cheat in the test. They were hoping to be recruited for jobs with starting salaries of only Bt9,000 a month, but were a stepping stone to permanent positions in the civil service.

The exam was to recruit 2,000 assistant teachers and the result that 486 test-takers had full scores raised suspicions of a possible exam-paper leak.

Sermsak said he would wait for the DSI probe result before deciding whether to scrap the controversial exam and hold a new one. He said he would also propose the Office of Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission (OTEPC) postpone its teacher recruitment, originally slated for March 13, until the end of March when they had results of the investigation.

He also affirmed that if ministry executives were involved in this alleged corruption they would face punishment and the guilty test-takers would be revoked from recruitment immediately. Assistant teacher exams in the future might be held in educational regions rather than the current practice of centralised exam administration, Sermsak added.

DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said that the DSI probe, as requested by Sermsak, had found grounds for exam cheating and would send the probe result to the Education Ministry on March 18. He said that DSI wanted to determine if the cheating had taken place in the Northeast or nationwide, as that would help the ministry to consider whether to scrap the exam only in some areas or nationwide. Holding an exam is costly.

Thanin Prempree, director of DSI's corruption prevention and suppression centre, said the initial probe found the exam cheating was done in three ways; getting others to take the exam instead of the real candidates, copying answers before taking the test, or bringing a communication device to get answers while taking the test. The DSI would have to wait for the Education Ministry's request to the Special Case Committee of the DSI to officially take up the case, he added.


-- The Nation 2013-03-07

[OzMick]

Obviously the DMoE knows the Thai education system well, and completely discounts the possibility that <5% of candidates could be intelligent/educated enough to pass the exam with near perfect results. They must be cheats.

This perception could be based on the DM"s inability to pass the exam himself. There could also be the possibility that the DoE doesn't want intelligent teachers - who knows where that could lead.

Edited March 7, 2013 by OzMick

[CelticBhoy]

2,000 candidates with the answers and only 486 get a full score ('bout 25%). Hardly teacher material then, are they?

[Fortunate1]

All may become clearer when a certain number of candidates start asking for their money back

[OzMick]

2,000 candidates with the answers and only 486 get a full score ('bout 25%). Hardly teacher material then, are they?

No they were recruiting 2000. The number of applicants was 10,000 per yesterday's thread.

Edited March 7, 2013 by OzMick

[Bagwan]

Why the fuss? Did anybody expect something different? This is Thailand. SNAFU.

What the DSI's role in this needs clarification. A probe has been carried out, the results are known but it will be another week and a half before the results are passed on. Now it seems the Education Department have to complete the correct form before DSI do anything else. Lots of negotiation in smoke filled rooms going on perhaps.

[jamhar]

Bad news, non ending string of clusterf*cks.

Good news, The Clusterf*cks are in the open. Meaning that the Thai's are willing to take take the PR hit in hopes of correcting the problem. Correcting a problem that isnt exposed, is difficult to do.

I'm thankful to be in a country willing to lose a little face now for a better future for their kids.

A society willing to take on the challenges of building an open, free society.

Yep, I'm an optimist alright

PS, i meant every word of what i wrote before my punch line.

I'm what you would call a "cynical optimist"

[Bagwan]

All may become clearer when a certain number of candidates start asking for their money back

I hope that some go the whole nine yards and sue whoever they paid for the answers for loss of face they incurred by failing the examination, thus turning a comic situation into a full blown pantomime..

[reiltin]

Leading by example...

I recall a few years ago Thaksins son was caught cheating and escorted out of exam room at Ramkamhaeng University

His sisters gained entry to Kaset and Chula without meeting the entry requirements.The apple never falls......

[Bagwan]

Bad news, non ending string of clusterf*cks.

Good news, The Clusterf*cks are in the open. Meaning that the Thai's are willing to take take the PR hit in hopes of correcting the problem. Correcting a problem that isnt exposed, is difficult to do.

I'm thankful to be in a country willing to lose a little face now for a better future for their kids.

A society willing to take on the challenges of building an open, free society.

Yep, I'm an optimist alright

PS, i meant every word of what i wrote before my punch line.

I'm what you would call a "cynical optimist"

It's out in the open? Are you sure? So why the delay in publishing? Nobody at DSI have typing skills? Most will be thinking that just a tip of an iceberg broke the surface and what is underway now is a massive coverup and snow job. As for this country wanting to build a better future for it's kids you really are wearing rose tinted glasses. The people who run this country send their kids abroad to make sure that they are educated, thus maintaining the gap between those who have and those who haven't for another generation. Many return carrying their precious bits of paper that Daddy had paid for, yet still seem to lack a scintilla of common sense. All the 'authorities' are interested in is maintaining a steady stream of 'factory fodder' and farm labourers and maybe, ladies to populate the go-go bars, massage parlours and brothels to keep the tourist merry-go-round circulating.

The vast majority of Thais wouldn't recognise an open and free society if it kicked them up the Khyber. Mind you, the word 'free' would soon gather a crowd with outstretched hands.

[Robby nz]

Does it not seem reasonable to anyone else that 586 out of 10,000 taking the exam would be smart enough to answer all the questions correctly?

Or are the questions posed so difficult that they are designed so no one will get the correct answers.

If they are really think there is cheating then set another exam for all 2000 who were selected, one where they cant cheat and see what happens.

Much simpler than doing all the investigations they propose.

[bigbamboo]

And ergo the prospect of a permanent position in the civil service is worth a quarter of a million baht outlay.

What can they mean?

[Pimay1]

If I were going to take a test and had all the correct answers beforehand, I certainly would not answer all questions correct. Maybe 95%. I guess this was not considered by the cheaters.

[Pimay1]

And ergo the prospect of a permanent position in the civil service is worth a quarter of a million baht outlay.

What can they mean?

It might have something to do with the ease of borrowing money if you have a civil service job. I have a few Thai friends that are teachers. They have borrowed millions of Baht just because they can to buy things they don't need just to impress others that shoudn't care. Some of them are 50+ and will never be able to repay the loans in their lifetime.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Pimay1

[cup-O-coffee]

I don't know what all the fuss is about. They either cheated or they did not.

Show the successful persons some respect and invite them to an impromptu meeting and give them the same test again but with the same questions in a different order and the text slightly reworded.

They are either well-studied, or they cheated. This method will prove it. You need to re test them before accusing them.

This is not a bad thing to do since the material on the test, I am certain, will be a daily part of their duties and responsibilities should they ever get the job. Therefore, it is a moot point to re test someone whom you plan on being representative of the material you are testing them on, and whom you expect to be representative on a daily basis if you employ their services.

Pissing and moaning about something you aren't sure about is typical Thai mentality. Accusing someone who could have been well-studied is idiotic Thai mentality. Giving them a chance to prove themselves and hence embarrass themselves was a good point missed by this squalling idiot. Instead he made himself out to be the idiot now, no matter what happens.

[Sandman77]

Does in Thailand realy someone have better possibilitys to find a got job, when you have a good school note certificate!

I not want believe this, the times are over also in the western world not only in Thailand !

Many people not find a job also when the was learn all good in school!

I heard about this report , this morning in the thai radio!

[jackspratt]

I hope the DSI has, or is proposing to, pull Abhisit in for questioning, as he his obviously in it up to his neck.

Just awaiting Tarit's confirmation.

[EyesWideOpen]

I love when the curtain is pulled a little ,and we get to see some of

the inter-workings of Thailand. Was astounded at the sum of 300,000

baht being paid for cheating assistance on the test, for a job

paying 9,000 baht and a crack at a government benefits. That makes the

sum of 1,000,000 baht being thrown out to become a policeman seem

downright cheap. And am equally astounded by the stupidity of the wannbe

teachers that they would mark in every answer correctly. By that fact alone

they should be disqualified... :-)

[Arkady]

Seems like the educational system is rotten from the roots up.

[cup-O-coffee]

Seems like the educational system is rotten from the roots up.

Agreed. But what really makes this apparent is that my simple solution was ignored by an idiot who is too ignorant to make a wise move and save face for everyone before throwing out accusations based on no evidence that would single out individuals. Give the successful scorers a chance to prove they are not cheaters. Give them another impromptu test. This should never have been let out into the public eye if they were allowed the opportunity and respect to show they are indeed that well studied.

I think Pongpanich is just out to make himself look good at the expense of people who just might have studied for this test and are indeed qualified. Accusing because you suspect is not the way to go. What an utter idiot and a poor example of the kind of person someone might want to work for in the future. Of course, were he to give a second test to prove his suspicions he would look like a horse's ass if they passed again.

[belg]

that is called greed.. off course it will be suspect or shall thailand have super teachers in the future, loooooooooool

that is the same as univercity graduates who put fluent in English on their Cv, and during the interview, can hardly put 2 correct sentenses together

[Pimay1]

that is called greed.. off course it will be suspect or shall thailand have super teachers in the future, loooooooooool

that is the same as univercity graduates who put fluent in English on their Cv, and during the interview, can hardly put 2 correct sentenses together

KSU as an example maybe?

[JetsetBkk]

Who cares about exam results? Just bung a few baht and you've got the job anyway.

[weegee]

AGAIN!!!!!!

[sonar6ca]

Wow, how many government agencies does it take to solve this problems?

[kurnell]

Isn't a big part of being a civil servant corruption and cheating? I would have thought that being clever enough to cheat, would have given you bonus points and a senior position

[surangw]

how much did the Deputy Minister pay to get his job?