Officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) are looking into allegations that eight secondary schools in Khon Kaen asked parents of failed entrance exam students for bribes, known as “tea money,” of up to 100,000 baht.
Thirat Bangpetch, acting director of NACC’s office in Khon Kaen, stated that there have been complaints from multiple parents about corrupt practices in these eight high schools.
NACC's independent investigation found evidence of bribery demands from parents of students who failed entrance exams or were put on the reserve list for each of these eight schools.
An audio recording of discussions between two parents on March 27 was shared with Thai PBS reporters, along with the translated transcript:th First parent: 'Did they ask for 100,000 baht?'
Second parent: 'Yes, 100,000 baht.' First parent: 'Did they demand the payment by 4pm?'
Second parent: 'Yes, not later than 4pm, otherwise the amount will be increased to 200,000 baht.' First parent: 'They said, if we had paid 60,000 baht in down payment before the exam, we would definitely have been allowed to study at the school.'
Second parent: 'But I told them I would prefer to have my boy to try his best and, if he is put on the reservist list, we just wait for the school to summon him.' First parent: 'Did they say there is no waiting?'
Second parent: 'They said, for those who are on the reservist list and those who failed the exam, anyone who pays 100,000 baht will be enrolled.' Thirat emphasized the need for schools to provide clear information about available seats, applicants, and exam results, as many parents are unaware of these details.
He requested exam-related documentation from the school administrators, but some refused, claiming they are not ready. Eight secondary schools in the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen are under investigation by officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC,) for allegedly demanding “tea money” of up to 100,000…
Second parent: “But I told them I would prefer to have my boy to try his best and, if he is put on the reservist list, we just wait for the school to summon him.”
First parent: “Did they say there is no waiting?”
Second parent: “They said, for those who are on the reservist list and those who failed the exam, anyone who pays 100,000 baht will be enrolled.”
Thirat said that the schools must clearly declare how many vacant seats there are, how many applicants and how many pass the entrance exam, because many parents don’t know how many vacant places there are in a school or how their children scored in the exam.
He said he has asked for all documentation related to the exam from the administrators of the eight schools. Some of them refused to comply, claiming that they are not ready yet.
