Reality and Rhetoric of Changes in Thailand’s University Admission Policy, 1999-2017

Abstract

This research aims to study a significant phenomenon, the changes in Thailand’s University Admission system between 1999 and 2017. During this period, the admission system was changed seven times. This research focuses on the political factors that led to the changes in admission policy, particularly the relationships among politicians, bureaucracy, schools, civil society, and students. The purpose of this research is threefold: (1) to understand the causes and procedures of changes in Thailand’s university admission policy; (2) to study and understand the correlation between politics and changes in university admission system; and (3) to understand the impact of changes on students.The research findings indicated that in the process of Thailand’s UniversityAdmission policy formation from 1999 – 2017, the Council of the University Presidentsof Thailand was the dominant policy maker. Bureaucracy, the political andsocial sectors had a minimal role in the policy making process. The Council of theUniversity Presidents of Thailand has consistently monopolized the admission system.The Council is a group of executives from elite universities in Thailand. Moreover,changes in the university admission policy also affected educational opportunities.Every change in the admission policy leads to the education system more complex.Although the complex system affects every student, the middle class and elite studentsare able to deal with the process easier than the lower-middle class students withadded socio-economic costs. The university admission system in Thailand is anotherexample of social exclusion. The education policy should create more opportunitiesand options for young people, however the university admission policy in Thailandhas constructed a system that helps elite universities equalize the number of studentsdue to the oversupply of seats in universities.