Changes to catchment area rules 'open up' top schools

Changes to catchment area rules 'open up' top schools

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has changed admissions regulations on catchment areas to give children living further away from the best schools more chance of getting in through entrance exams.

Kamol Rodklai, secretary-general of Obec, yesterday unveiled the new guidelines for admitting Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) and 4 students for the 2015 academic year.

Schools were previously required to take 50% of pupils from their local catchment area and 50% from further afield.

"Under the new guidelines, the quota for new Mathayom 1 students from inside each school's catchment area has been reduced from 50% to 40%, with the remaining 60% of places reserved for those who live outside the area but who take the school's entrance exam," he said. 

"The change reflects the declining birth rate and more convenient transport options that allow students to be educated at top schools located further away from where they live. The more places offered through entrance examinations, the harder students will have­­ to study in order to successfully get into their preferred school."

The admissions process for pupils living inside school catchment areas is conducted through examinations, a lottery draw or both. Last year, only 22 out of 100 schools opted to use the lottery system.

Obec has been considering whether to scrap the controversial lottery system over concerns that it puts too much pressure on students and their parents and is unfair.

"The system of drawing lots will remain for now," Mr Kamol said. "Each school is allowed to recruit students who live within their catchment area through the lottery system or an exam. In future, it is possible that all schools will select pupils through examinations alone."

Mathayom 3 students with a GPA of more than 2.00 are automatically allowed to continue Mathayom 4 studies at their existing school.

Mr Kamol said schools must also admit special quotas of disadvantaged students, children of teachers and child victims of natural disasters, among others. The number of such pupils that schools must accept is not fixed but is "small", he said.

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