There are now 281 such schools in the country. Every year, the number of applicants to these schools far exceeds the available seats. Sometimes, the ratio is around 10:1.

“The competition is always fierce,” Surasak Insrikrai, a senior official at the Office of Basic Education Commission, said yesterday.

Of these popular schools, 57 are located in Bangkok’s Educational Areas 1 and 2. These capitalbased schools will recruit 57,087 Mathayom 1 and Mathayom 4 students

Staterun secondary schools across Thailand will accept applications for Mathayom 1 students between March 27 and 30. Entrance exams will take place on April 8. The results will be part of the criteria used for admissions alongside the applicants’ Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) scores.

Admission results will be announced on April 12 and successful candidates must report to schools on the same day.

Apart from applicants applying to schools through the exam system, local children also have a chance to get in through a lucky draw. The draw will take place on April 8 and successful candidates must report to the school on the same day.

For Mathayom 4 level, applicants must submit applications between March 27 and 30. Exams will take place on April 2. Admission results will be announced on April 12 and successful candidates must report to the schools on the same day.