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First thing first, what is U-Net?
U-Net (University National Education Test) is a newly created test from NIETS (National Institute of Educational Testing Service). The ones who are going to do the test will be seniors in universities. ฺ Below is a Q&A picture made by NIETS' official Facebook page.
(Picture taken from NIETS' official facebook page. Here's the link.)
Here's translation by me.
Top-right, blue zone:
What is U-NET?
-University National Education Test.
-(Thai translation)
Top-left, light-green box:
Q: Does it have to be paid for?
A: No, because it is a government policy.
Left, green box:
Q: Does everyone have to take the test?/Is is a compulsion?
A: It is not a compulsion test and it depends on availability of subjects, faculties, and the academies. It is going to be used only with academies that are prepared and are willing to send their students to take the test.
Pink box:
Q: Do the test scores have any effect to consideration in job registration?
A: It depends on corporations whether they will include U-Net scores in their criteria or not. There are no coercion or agreements (from NIETS) with the corporations.
Yellow box:
Q: What reason is this test for? What does this test want to measure?
A: U-Net aims to measure the quality of academies, as graduates' quality is academies' quality. Also, the ones who take the test can use the results to assess their potential.
Orange box:
Q: The test is redundant with the academies' examination?
A: It is not redundant, as the test measure 4 subjects of basic skills. It doesn't emphasize repetition, and is based on Thailand Qualifications Framework (TQF), in which all universities take as guidelines.
Bottom right corner, green box:
Q: Why do you have to test on professional skills of specific majors when there are already licenses?
A: For professions that already have federations/ professional associations, NIETS will not redundantly test again.
The 4 subjects of basic skills are:
1. Thai language for communication and English language for communication.
2. Information and Technology for subsistence.
3. Media Literacy
4. Critical Thinking
Now then, let's see what that picture didn't mention and the problems of U-Net.
Firstly, when they say there is no coercion or agreement with corporations, they didn't include the part that they ask for cooperation from corporations to use U-Net scores in job registration. So how is that NOT a compulsion/must do test?
Next, the 4 subjects aforementioned are going to be added with another two next year. Those two are Morality and Ethics and Professional Skills of Specific Majors. I really, REALLY want to know how can you measure one's morality through exams. I also want to know what happened with "For professions that already have federations/ professional associations, NIETS will not redundantly test again.".
Moreover, how can you determine the "correctness"? Do all of us have to think the exact same way as you and your exam? Any of us who have different ideas (answers) are considered wrong?
Regarding the aim of measuring academy's quality and redundancy, when GAT/PAT (another troublesome tests) was announced long ago, they also say that GAT/PAT emphasize understanding, not repetition. However, if you come to Bangkok you'll probably see A LOT OF tutor institutions. I'd say students even concentrate there more than schools, and there are a ton of GAT/PAT tutor courses. That being said, how is this not a repetition?
In truth, U-Net will generate U-Net tutor courses. Students can concentrate on normal schools less because they have to take on specific subject tutoring courses, O-Net tutoring courses, GAT/PAT tutoring courses, TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS/SAT and probably more courses, university's specific test tutoring courses, and when they think they escape all that in the university, they have to take U-Net courses. U-Net will not be able to measure the quality of the academies, but it will boost the growth of tutor institutions, thus ruining Thai education even more.
And if these aren't enough to convince you that U-Net is terrible, allow me to show you some questions from the past O-Net (Ordinary National Educational Test) (U-Net is something like this, only in university level.)
(From 2013's O-Net)
The reason why Europeans like to eat Thailand's Mussaman curry is?
1. Spicy and tasty
2. Mellow taste like soup
3. Colorful and attractive
4. Fragrant spices
5. Sour like spicy lemongrass soup
What's your answer?
(From 2010's O-Net)
Nok is a 17-year-old tennis player who received Women's Singles and Women's Doubles champion titles.
Question One: Nok is going to perform a valley, what position does she have to hit at the ball?
Question Two: What topic is Nok stressed about?
Question Three: How is Nok having sportsmanship?
That sentence was everything the exam provided. (Fun fact: The real Nok herself answered them wrong.)
(From 2011's O-Net)
If you get an erotic feeling, what should you do?
1. Invite friends to play football
2. Consult with family
3. Try to sleep
4. Travel with friends of different gender.
5. Invite close friends to watch movies.
The answer is choice one, invite friends to play football.
What a wonderful test.
There's a lot more details out there, but it will take me forever to mention them all. Anyways, I hope U-Net's going to be stopped.
Lastly, the reason why I'm writing this even though my English isn't that good to translate big topics is because it directly affects Thai students. Also, I've seen enough opinions from Thais, and I'd love to hear from others out there (by that I mean you). Please don't hesitate to comment!
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Wow, you really stay with me until the end. Thanks for reading!
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