University students have slammed the newly-launched graduate examination — the University National Educational Test (Unet) — saying it placed an extra burden on already overloaded students.
More than 60,000 students have "Liked" a Facebook page criticising the test.
Organised by the National Institute of Education Testings Service (Niets), Unet comprises three main parts to assess graduates’ basic competencies on Thai and English communication skills, media literacy and critical thinking.
The other two parts are moral reasoning and specific professional skills.
Niets announced that the Unet exam is designed to evaluate all graduates at bachelor, master and doctorate levels.
Soon after the Unet exams were announced, an anti-Unet Facebook page created last Thursday received more than 60,000 Likes, as of Saturday.
The page said that 50,000 names will be collected and sent to Niets to show their disagreement on Unet.
Wittawat Loadae, a fourth-year student of Rajamangala University of Technology Krugthep’s Faculty of Liberal Arts, disagreed with Unet as many tough examinations to evaluate students’ academic performance were already in place.
“There are a lot of exams that we have to face,” he said.
Mr Wittawat insisted that each major already has its own tests to ensure all students meet academic requirements.
Siripitch Siranyathawat, a fourth-year student at Mae Fah Luang University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts, also said the Unet exams would place an unnecessary burden on students.
“I disagree with this idea," Ms Siripitch said.
"My university has already has exams like Unet, called an exit exam.
"All students of all majors must undertake this exit exam to assess their academic performance before graduating.”
Niets board chairman Somwang Pitiyanuwat insisted on moving forward with Unet amid disagreement.
“Niets is duty bound to develop the tool to assess quality of education at all levels including basic schools, vocational education and non-formal education," he said.
"But we do not yet evaluate graduates’ standards at university level.”