Pre-university students in Thailand, who develop mild symptoms of COVID-19, are undergoing treatment for the disease or are at risk of getting infected, can attend the General Aptitude Test/Professional and Academic Aptitude Test (GAT/PAT), scheduled for March 12th to 15th, and for other tests on the 19th and the 20th.
Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong said today that this was a joint decision by the Ministries of Education, Public Health, Interior and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.
She said that it was agreed that students infected with COVID-19 should not miss out on the chance to sit for the tests, proving that they have the consent of their doctors.
177,853 students are expected to take the GAT/PAT and 155,282 are to take other tests.
There will be 213 test sites and students who are not infected with COVID-19 can use the site of their choice. The infected are not allowed to choose and have to take the tests at specific locations, such as Thammasat University and a site in Chanthaburi.
Those who are infected must register at the site at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus 24 hours in advance and they will be confined to special test sites until the examinations are complete.
Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission Dr. Amporn Pinasa said that infected students will take the tests in special rooms, which have been made safe in consultation with health officials, adding that the students must arrive at their examination location in a private or specially arranged vehicle.
