ACT calls for overhaul of civil service recruitment system

The Local Administration Department’s scandalous entry exam fraud triggers a crisis of confidence in the government’s recruitment system, which needs to be completely overhauled, according to Mana Nimitmongkol, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT), today.

He noted that the most worrisome aspect in this case is not just ordinary cheating, but the systematic and complex level of cheating involving the tampering with entrance exam scores stored on computer systems.

“This means that the examinees could write any answers, right or wrong, and there was someone who could make the answers ‘right’,” said Mana, adding that the exam fraud is not the first at the LAD and that it has been going on unreported for years.

Regarding the Srinakharinwirot University’s role in this scandal, Mana said that the university’s reputation has been tarnished, because it was responsible for organising the examination and, therefore, should also be held accountable.

He said a university should have a regulatory, examination and performance assessment system for its personnel, to ensure good governance, transparency and honesty.

The ACT chairman said that investigation of this case should not end with just the “small fry” being punished, but should go further up to the “big fish” behind the corruption, noting the huge amount of money involved.

Mana said that many people were willing to pay amounts of 350,000 baht or higher for a job that may offer as little as 15,000 baht per month in salary, because they believe that working in the civil service, in the long run, is secure and with better fringe benefits and welfare compared to a job in the private sector.

He suggested a complete review of the recruitment exam system, with the involvement of independent organisations in the process.