The Deputy of Ministry of Education (Surasak Phancharoenworakul) was a chairman in the opening ceremony of “the marking of O-NET’s subjective exam for Thai language subject at elementary level 6 and secondary level 3 in the fiscal year 2023”

On March 7, 2024, the Deputy of Ministry of Education (Surasak  Phancharoenworakul) was a chairman in the opening ceremony and visited the subjective exam marking in order to build morale for teachers and working groups who carry out the marking subjective exam of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) on Thai language subject at elementary level 6 and secondary level 3 at the examination center of Sukhothai Thammathirat University. It was also administered by an online system simultaneously nationwide which had 3 examination marking centers and 2 systems of online marking. The director of National Institute of Educational Testing Service (Public Organization) (Asst. Prof. Sirida Burachat, Ph.D) reported an overview of the subjective exam marking for Thai language subject in the fiscal year 2023.

NIETS operated the O-NET testing project at elementary level 6 and secondary level 3, there were 4 subjects consisting of Thai language, mathematics, science, and English language. Regarding Thai language, there were 2 forms of testing exam: objective and subjective. The subjective exam at elementary level 6 has been operating since the academic year 2016, while, the objective exam at secondary level 3 started in the academic year 2021 until the present. The findings showed that there was an improvement in the path of learning and teaching in Thai language classes and the enhancement of skills in reading, writing, thinking analysis, comprehensive summaries, linking ideas, and communicating by writing in their own language.

Referring to the subjective exam of Thai language in the academic year 2023, at elementary level 6, there were 2 questions (question 21. Writing stories from pictures and question 22. Writing comprehensive summaries from passages), whereas at secondary level 3 there was 1 subjective question (question 30. Writing precis and comments from passages). These were compatible with the basic education core curriculum B.E. 2551 (A.D. 2008) and supportก key capacity building in communications, thinking, and problem solving.

NIETS has consistently developed O-NET testing in Thai language subject by subjective test, as well as improved marking papers methods using information technology to assist subjective exam marking procedures and response to the policy “Anywhere, Anytime” of the Minister of Education (Police General Permpoon Chidchob) in order to develop quality education that is able to link with every sector. As a result of these responses, NIETS had cooperation with the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University, universities, and Rajabhat universities to develop training courses for subjective exam marking teachers and criteria for marking and giving scores. It was also subjective exam marking center collaborated with teachers for this subjective marking exam which was scheduled for March 7 – 16, 2024.

• 1. At elementary level 6, the marking exam was conducted remotely via an online system from the markers' homes. There were 658,932 students who participated in the test; calculated the number of answer papers for marking was 2,635,728, and there were 908 teachers for marking papers.
• 2. At secondary level 3, there were 2 forms of marking exam conducted remotely via an online system and on-site exam marking centers. There were 409,777 students who participated in the test; calculated the number of answer papers for marking was 819,554, and there were 832 teachers for marking papers.

NIETS acquired the cooperation of Sukhothai Thammathirat University, Naresuan University, and Nakhonratchasima Rajabhat University as exam marking centers. Moreover, NIETS conducted a pilot study and research on the online system of marking answer papers at secondary level 3 with a sample 172 people, and at elementary level 6 completely using the online system of marking papers. In this subjective exam marking, NIETS worked and collaborated with experts in Thai language from the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University, professors from universities, and Rajabhat universities which had a total of 18 Thai language curriculum locations in order to make training courses for the subjective marking exam. We already organized an operational meeting of marking criteria for subjective exam on February 22 – 26, 2024, and a comment hearing meeting of marking criteria for the subjective exam from related agencies’ representatives on February 27, 2024. Therefore, NIETS determines O-NET testing result announcement at elementary level 6 on March 27, 2024, and at secondary level 3 on March 28, 2024. The test result information would be applied for the self-development of learners, teaching management planning for teachers, and for academic executives to focus on educational quality development policy.

On this occasion, NIETS appreciated the Deputy of Ministry of Education (Surasak  Phancharoenworakul) who had the honor to be the chairman in the opening ceremony of “the marking of O-NET’s subjective exam for Thai language subject at elementary level 6 and secondary level 3 in the fiscal year 2023,” and esteemed Sukhothai Thammathirat University, Nakhonratchasima Rajabhat University, and Naresuan University for supporting official staff to do functional duty and marking subjective exam centers. We were grateful for the kind assistance of Thai language experts and professors as co-speakers in this event, from Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University, and all universities. Especially thank you to teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the local government organization, and other agencies that managed learning and teaching nationwide, including all participants who cooperated in testing operation achievement according to national education testing standards.