The Education Ministry of Thailand is set to launch an enhanced version of the O-Net exam system, known as O-Net Plus. This new system aims to rejuvenate equivalency testing and serve as a benchmark for assessing teaching quality. The Ministry, in collaboration with various educational organizations, plans to introduce the improved exam that will allow students to take tests in additional subjects without repeating those they have already passed. The O-Net Plus is expected to be rolled out in the 2024 academic year, with an increased emphasis on critical thinking skills.
Education Minister, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, highlighted the importance of having a benchmark to evaluate students’ knowledge and skill levels. Currently, the National Institute of Educational Testing Service’s (Niets) Ordinary National Educational Test (O-Net) fulfills this role. However, the existing O-Net only covers four subjects, namely maths, Thai language, science, and English. The O-Net Plus aims to offer exams in all eight core subjects.
In addition to assessing students’ achievements, the O-Net Plus will be utilized as a tool to evaluate the competence of teachers and education personnel. The minister emphasized that poor performances in maths tests would indicate deficiencies in teaching quality. By assessing students’ knowledge, abilities, and logic, the O-Net Plus will adhere to the Basic Education Core Curriculum’s standards for Prathom 6 (Grade 6), Matthayom 3 (Grade 9), and Matthayom 6 (Grade 12) students.
Currently, test scores for Grade 6 and 9 students do not affect their admission into new schools. Only the O-Net results of Grade 12 students are considered for university entrance examinations. However, the O-Net Plus aims to provide students with an opportunity to enhance their skills and gauge their learning achievements without being solely focused on obtaining high scores for their school’s benefit.
In related news, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed the government’s commitment to addressing Thailand’s education inequality crisis by taking concrete steps to eliminate school dropouts and revolutionize the educational landscape.
As part of the Ministry of Education’s reorganization, the cabinet has approved a proposal to divide the ministry into two separate offices. This division will ensure better management of primary schools and secondary to high schools, respectively.
The introduction of the enhanced O-Net Plus exam system and the government’s determination to tackle education inequality signal a significant step forward in Thailand’s educational development.
