THAILAND: University applications drop 20%

The number of students applying to sit this year's central university admissions exam has dropped by 20%, Sirikul Bunnag reports for The Bangkok Post. A university rector said this was possibly because of the economic crisis that may have led to job losses among parents, affecting their children's decisions over whether to further their studies.

As of the last day of the central university admissions application, a total of 99,454 12th graders had applied for seats at 24 state-run universities nationwide, said Suranaree University of Technology rector Prasart Suebkha, head of the Association of University Presidents of Thailand, which organises the central university admissions. The applicants were expected to reach 100,000 at midnight, the deadline for applications. The number of applicants has fallen by 20% from last year, when there were around 120,000, he said.

The university rectors association will today meet to find out why the number of applicants is so low despite the fact that the number of students completing Grade 12 level this year is almost the same as last year, said Mr Prasart.
Full story on The Bangkok Post site