It's time for tutorial schools to celebrate because most Thai students are getting ready to get enrolled in well-known schools and universities. 

"Every weekend, I come to Bangkok to attend classes at two tutorial schools in Siam Square. I do this because I want to enrol in a very famous secondary school," a twelve-year-old student from Ayutthaya, Yanthicha Nam-prom, said. "We have to get up at 4am because I have to attend my first class at 7.30am."

Another Matthayom 5 student is getting ready for ONet and ANet (Ordinary and Advanced National Educational Tests) by taking "Entrance Courses".

Growing demand

Suttahatai Khansri, 16, said she was getting tutored in Chemistry, Biology and English at the moment, and would take more subjects later.

"Our school can take on about 400 students at a time. About 60 to 70 per cent of our total seats have already been taken up for summer, which is usually a popular period for tutorial schools.

"During other periods, about 50 per cent of our classes are filled," said Poosit Jearapasa-worn, the director of AMP7200, a popular tutorial school in Siam Square.

"I spend a lot of one-on-one time with my students. Some of my students travel from Rayong or Sara Buri to be tutored."

Sompong Jitradab, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said tutoring was essential these days because school curriculum had not improved and the standards at many top schools were not up to par due to the lack of resources.

By Wannapa Phetdee

Daily Xpress