The Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT) yesterday said it will refuse to issue licences to masters graduates from four private universities on the 2014 educational administrator programme after a probe found irregularities.
The investigation set up by the TCT previously found 12 public and private universities nationwide to have admitted more students to the programme in 2014 than was allowed.
The incident came to light when the TCT noticed a large number of graduates applying for educational administrator licences that year.
According to the agency, more than one million teaching and educational administrator licences have been issued by the TCT since 2004.
The 12 universities are Bangkokthonburi University (BTU), North Chiang Mai University, Thongsook College, Siam Technological College, Kasetsart University, Silpakorn University, Burapha University, Buriram Rajabhat University, Chaing Rai Rajabhat University, Surat Thani Rajabhat University, Phuket Rajabhat University and Ratchathani University.
Somsak Dolprasi, the TCT's acting secretary-general, said the TCT found that seven state universities -- Kasetsart University, Silpakorn University, Burapha University, Buriram Rajabhat University, Chaing Rai Rajabhat University, Surat Thani Rajabhat University and Phuket Rajabhat University -- had admitted only a small number of students more than was allowed.
However, in the case of four private universities -- Bangkokthonburi University, North Chiang Mai University, Thongsook College and Siam Technological College -- their programmes had taken in a lot more students than they were allowed.
"In 2014, Bangkokthonburi University took in more than 2,500 students for its educational administration programme when it was only allowed for 490.
"The other three universities also violated the same regulation as BTU," Mr Somsak said.
The TCT has decided to overlook the offending by the seven public universities if they address the problem of oversubscription.
Masters graduates from the four private universities will be barred from applying for the TCT's educational administrator licences now that their programmes are considered sub-standard.
In the case of Ratchathani University, the TCT has not yet concluded its investigation.