The Difficulties of Thai Exams

This is a theme I’ve come across with many Thai exams. I can’t speak or all schools, but I have heard this a lot and am now experiencing it first hand. Thai schools-full of cheating and fake grades. I’ve given my first set of exams and it was all bad! The students will do what ever it takes to cheat. They aren't even hiding the fact that they are cheating, they just do it! I’ve asked other teachers about this and they all have said the same thing. I even talked to foreigners who have lived here for a few years and they go to the extreme to say that the cheating is so well known that they won't even go to the hospitals here for anything major because they wouldn’t want to have surgery from people who cheated their way through their medical exams. My students looked confused when I told them there would be NO cheating in my class. Like this was the first time anyone has ever said it. What't the point of giving students exams if they just think they are going to pass anyway. Now I graded the exams. The range of grades landed anywhere from .5 out of 46 to 46 out of 46. I presented this to my employer and I am now facing major consequences. I am not allowed to fail any students. Even if a student didn't fill out the exam, I must pass them with a 50%. This isn’t fare by any means! So, reluctantly I had to raise all my grades so that everyone passed. Ok, I've unfortunately accepted this.