Test writers urgently needed, Niets says

Producing 16 national tests each year requires a permanent staff of academics and experts, the Niets chairman says, citing countries like South Korea who employ hundreds to do the job.

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Thai national test-producers have come under heavy criticism over the years, but in fairness the job may too big for its present staff. THITI WANNAMONTHA

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Niets claims test-maker shortage

Lamphai Intathep

The National Institute of Educational Testings Service (Niets) has asked for funding from the government to hire academics to design new testing and research methods.

Somwang Pitiyanuwat, Niets chairman, said the organisation needs money to hire at least 20 university academics on a permanent basis.

Niets was established in 2005 to oversee the evaluation of students at all levels.

Mr Somwang said Niets does not have enough money to hire the new test-makers. "We need the government to help allocate the budget for this project," he said. Niets must organise at least 16 national tests on a yearly basis including the Ordinary National Education Test (Onet), the General Aptitude Test (GAT), and the Professional and Academic Aptitude Test (PAT).

The tests are meant to assess students' academic performance nationwide across all levels.

Finding the right answer can be especially difficult when there is more than one correct answer or no really correct answer at all. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Mr Somwang said since Niets was established, university lecturers and experts have helped to design national exams on an occasional basis.

He said Niets needs more permanent academics to maintain continuity in their exam development.

Countries such as South Korea kept hundreds of academics specifically and permanently assigned to designing national tests, he said.

"At least 20 academics and experts should be assigned to permanently help Niets."

Mr Somwang said Niets has a plan to establish a database to collect 100,000 test questions within the year.

He said a conference on national testing in the Asia-Pacific region would be held from Sept 3-5 for Asean countries to share testing systems and to develop a national testing framework ahead of the Asean Community in 2015.

Meanwhile, Somkid Lertpaitoon, the president of the Council of the University Presidents of Thailand and Thammasat University rector, said central admission for the 2013 academic year will recruit 119,520 students for 720 faculties and programmes at 91 schools. Applications open from next Thursday until April 21.

criticism – comments that show that you think something is wrong or bad การวิจารณ์
claim – to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it อ้าง
shortage – when there is not enough of something การขาดแคลน
funding – money given for a particular purpose  การให้เงินสนับสนุน
hire – to pay someone to work for you, especially for a short time จ้าง
academic – someone who teaches at a college, or who studies as part of their job นักวิชาการ
research – a careful study of a subject, especially in order to discover new facts or information about it การวิจัย
permanent – existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร
on a permanent basis – permanently, i.e., as a permanent, rather than a temporary job –
establish – to start a company or organisation that will likely continue for a long time สถาปนา, ก่อตั้ง, จัดตั้ง
oversee – to watch or organise a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly คุมงาน,ควบคุม
evaluation – the process of thinking carefully about something before making a judgment about its value, importance, or quality การประเมินผล
level – a position or rank in a scale of size or importance ระดับ
allocate – to officially give something to someone  จัดสรร, จัดแบ่ง
budget – an amount of money able to be spent on something งบประมาณ
aptitude – natural ability that makes it easy for you to do something well ความฉลาดในการเรียนรู้, ความสามารถในการเรียนรู้ได้เร็ว
academic – relating to education เชิงวิชาการ
assess – to carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order to make a judgment ประเมิณสถานการณ์
nationwide – throughout a whole country  ทั่วทั้งประเทศ
occasional – happening or done sometimes but not often ซึ่งเป็นครั้งคราว
maintain – to keep รักษา
continuity – the fact of not stopping or not changing ความต่อเนื่องกัน
specifically – in a detailed and exact way เฉพาะ, เฉพาะเจาะจง
database – a large amount of information stored in a computer in an organised way ฐานข้อมูล
conference – a large official meeting, usually lasting for a few days, at which people with the same work or interests come together to discuss their views การประชุมร่วม
framework – a system of rules, ideas or beliefs that is used to plan or decide something ขอบข่ายงาน, โครงร่าง
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
rector – the person in charge in some universities, schools, colleges and universities อธิการบดี
admission – agreeing that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  การยอมรับ
recruit – to find or persuade someone to join in something จัดหาคนใหม่
faculty – a group of departments in a college or university which specialise in a particular subject or group of subjects คณะ
application – a formal request for permission to do or have something; a piece of paper used to apply for something การขอ, ใบสมัคร