Scandal taints college degrees<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (UPI): Several Thai politicians have been asked to
\nreturn their degrees from a northeastern college following
\nallegations that the school provides diplomas to rich students
\nwho pay \"tuition\" but do not have to attend classes, reports said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The scandal involving Sakon Nakhon College, some 530 km
\nnortheast of Bangkok, was another blow to the government of Prime
\nMinister Banharn Silpa-archa, who himself has been accused of
\nplagiarizing his master's degree thesis.<\/p>\n
The Bangkok Post quoted University Affairs Minister Boonchu
\nThrithong as saying politicians should return their degrees in
\norder to prevent the college from using the leaders' names to
\nlure new students and enhance its credibility.<\/p>\n
Prominent alumni include Deputy Interior Minister Kiatchai
\nChaichawarat, Deputy Finance Minister Sermsak Karoon and eight
\nother members of parliament.<\/p>\n
The college boasts an enrollment of more than a thousand, but
\nonly 54 are listed as full-time students. It has only six full-
\ntime lecturers, all of whom are former students. Tuition is about
\n10,000 baht (US$400) per semester, which is considered cheap by
\nlocal standards.<\/p>",
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