Scandal taints college degrees

Scandal taints college degrees

BANGKOK (UPI): Several Thai politicians have been asked to return their degrees from a northeastern college following allegations that the school provides diplomas to rich students who pay "tuition" but do not have to attend classes, reports said yesterday.

The scandal involving Sakon Nakhon College, some 530 km northeast of Bangkok, was another blow to the government of Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa, who himself has been accused of plagiarizing his master's degree thesis.

The Bangkok Post quoted University Affairs Minister Boonchu Thrithong as saying politicians should return their degrees in order to prevent the college from using the leaders' names to lure new students and enhance its credibility.

Prominent alumni include Deputy Interior Minister Kiatchai Chaichawarat, Deputy Finance Minister Sermsak Karoon and eight other members of parliament.

The college boasts an enrollment of more than a thousand, but only 54 are listed as full-time students. It has only six full- time lecturers, all of whom are former students. Tuition is about 10,000 baht (US$400) per semester, which is considered cheap by local standards.