CUPT mulls switch to old uni timetable

The Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) plans to discuss reverting academic terms back to the old system.

The change would mean Thailand no longer conforms to the timetables of universities in other Southeast Asian countries.

The CUPT chairman Prasart Suebka said yesterday the council is ready to discuss changing its academic timetable after the Assembly of Faculty Senate Chairs of Thailand (AFCT), representing lecturers, called for a change to the timetable due to the hot weather.

Lecturers under the AFCT claimed the current timetable — the first semester runs from August to December, and the second semester from January to May — harms the quality of Thai education, particularly the second semester, which runs during the summer, and is not conducive to students’ studies.

Furthermore, universities have to pay more for air conditioning in the summer and several holidays crop up in the second semester, including Songkran, according to the AFCT.

Mr Prasart said CUPT members will discuss the issue at a meeting on June 21-22. However, the 2015 semester will remain unchanged, as students need time to prepare.

“We will study the pros and cons of the new timetable and the old one before deciding whether to revert,” the CUPT chief said.

Mr Prasart said he thought the present semester system is suitable for the country since Thailand will join the Asean Community (AC) at the end of this year, which requires more uniformity in the region.

“A previous survey found students are satisfied with the new timetable because they have more time to prepare for entrance exams to universities. I think the CUPT should stand firm,” Mr Prasart said.

Higher Education Commission secretary-general Piniti Ratananukul said the CUPT has a right to change the timetable if they see more pluses with the old system than the new.

However, any changes must not be rushed because students will get confused.

Thailand changed its academic timetable last year to conform with other Asean countries in preparation for the AC.