Lawmaker Flags Massive Fraud in Local Government Exams Nationwide
A Pheu Thai MP alleges nationwide fraud in local government entrance exams, citing a 2025 pass rate of 22.16%—nearly four times higher than the standard 1-7% range seen in civil service exams, suggesting score manipulation or altered benchm
Pol. Lt. Col. Tawee Sodsong, a Pheu Thai party list MP, posted on Facebook on July 24, 2025, alleging a "massive saga of corruption involving bribery in local government exam fraud spread nationwide." He called for investigations to reach senior policymakers and officials directing the exams.
Tawee highlighted statistical irregularities in local government entrance examinations over the past five years: In 2025 (Srinakharinwirot University), 213,030 applicants took the exam with 47,208 passing, a 22.16% pass rate—abnormally high compared to previous years. In 2021 (Burapha University), 281,968 applicants resulted in 18,874 passes (6.69%). In 2019 (Kasetsart University), 249,235 applicants produced 9,893 passes (3.97%). In 2017 (Burapha University), 477,102 applicants yielded 32,369 passes (6.78%). In 2014 (Suan Dusit University), 280,625 applicants resulted in 4,864 passes (1.73%).
Comparison with standard national civil service exams conducted by the Civil Service Commission showed pass rates consistently between 1% and 7%. In 2025, 450,000 candidates applied with 19,488 passing (4.33%); in 2024, 384,906 applied with 28,571 passing (7.42%); in 2023, 333,500 applied with 15,485 passing (4.64%); in 2022, 369,437 applied with 4,744 passing (1.28%); and in 2021, 719,805 applied with 11,349 passing (1.58%).
Tawee's analysis concluded that the 2025 local government exam pass rate of 22.16%—nearly four times the natural average of 7%—cannot result from normal score distribution among candidates. Instead, it suggests irregularities in data processing, altered benchmarks, or computer system manipulation of raw scores, pointing to exam fraud. The lawmaker noted that Burapha University, which had successfully administered local government exams twice with no fraud allegations and at a cost of only 275 baht per applicant (82.5 million baht for roughly 300,000 candidates in 2566), was replaced by other universities for subsequent exams, raising further questions about the process.
