Students whose university entrance examination was violently disrupted by drunk intruders last month received roses, holy water and amulets when they arrived to take the test again at Bangpakok Wittayakom School in Rat Burana district on Tuesday.
Hooligans from a noisy, nearby ordination forced their way into Mathayomwatsing School in Bang Khunthian district on Feb 24, where 248 students were sitting the professional and academic aptitude test. Eighty-six of the students resat the exam on Tuesday.
About 10 soldiers and police secured the exam venue on Tuesday. High-level officials of the Education Ministry, the National Institute of Educational Testing Service (Niets) and the Royal Thai Police Office were also present.
Niets director Sirada Burachart said 87 students applied for a fresh examination, but one did not turn up.
She said that Niets would sue the intruders, who already face police criminal charges, to recover the cost of the new exam. However, the damage would be lowered from the earlier estimate of 1 million baht, based on the small number of the students seeking to resit the test.
Bangpakok Wittayakom School presented the students with roses before the exam started, school director Wichian Chutimasakul said. An abbot also sprinkled holy water on them and gave the students amulets, to raise their morale, he said.