Politics 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 six 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 these changes had on students.

The research findings indicated that in the process of Thailand’s University Admission policy formation from 1999 – 2017, the Council of the University Presidents of Thailand was the dominant policy maker. Bureaucracy, the political sector and the social sector had a minimal role in the policy making process. The Council of the University Presidents of Thailand has consistently monopolized the admission system. The Council is a group of executives from elite universities in Thailand. The study found that changes in the university admission policy also affected educational opportunities. Every change in the admission policy makes the education system more complex. Although the complex system affects every student, the middle class and elite are able to deal with the process more easily than students with added socio-economic costs. The university admission system in Thailand is another example of social exclusion. The education policy should create more opportunities and options for young people, however the university admission policy in Thailand is more so a system to helps elite universities equalize the number of students due to the oversupply of seats in universities.