The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) will this week allow students who have not yet found schools in Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) to register and secure a place.
Registration is for students who missed out on selection based on their exam results announced last week, or a lottery for a limited number of places at the most sought-after schools which was held Sunday. The process is designed to tell the Ministry of Education which students are still looking for a place so it can find one for them.
Registration will run from Wednesday to Sunday and can be carried out at either the educational service's offices or at students' nearest schools, said Chalam Attatham, director of Obec's Policy and Planning Bureau. Obec will announce which students have been allotted to what schools on April 17, he added.
At Sunday's announcement of the registration dates, students entered into lucky draws to determine seats for those living near the country's 18 most competitive schools, five of which are in Bangkok.
The five in Bangkok were Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn, Triam Udom Suksa Nomklao, Nawaminthrachuthit Triamudomsuksanomklao, Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) 2 and Surasakmontree.
Mr Chalam said the most highly-sought after schools are now full, but there are still seats at less competitive schools. The lucky draw season for Mathayom 1 students started Sunday, after entry exams finished on March 26 and the results were announced on Saturday.
Tense scenes played out at Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School Sunday, with one father who accompanied his daughter saying he was told 54 out of 94 students will be accepted. Students, separated from their parents and seated on the front rows, fidgeted as the lottery of places got underway.
Cheering voices and clapping hands erupted across the school's auditorium as children who won lots congratulated each other, while parents consoled some of the unlucky pupils who missed out. Some students were seen crying as they contemplated their fates.
On the plus side, the casting lots gave students who missed out based on their test results a chance of securing a good place. On the minus side, some students still missed out on the lottery. "Every year children have to go through such a horrible emotional process," said one mother.
"This is like gambling," added another parent, though both agreed with the admission system that ensures children living in the district are given priority to study near their home.
The parents' concerns were eased by the fact they can fill in a form and apply to enrol their children in other schools near the area. Still, no parents want their children to study in a less sough-after and less prestigious school, the parents said.
Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn is the most competitive government school this year with 1,300 students applying for 500 places for Mathayom 1. However, Theerapong Niyomthong, the school director, said few seats were given to students considered privileged. Most were awarded to those with diverse backgrounds.
"There is one border patrol police's daughter, a few students who are from families with limited means, and our decision to give dispensation to people from low-income backgrounds is valid according to Obec," Mr Theerapong said.