Winning bidder announced in auction of old pledging scheme rice

12 Sept 12:03 Key points summarised by AI

V8 Intertrading won the auction for 15,000 tonnes of ten-year-old pledging scheme rice with a bid of Bt19.07/kg, outcompeting five other local trading companies.
Bidders expressed confidence in the rice's marketability despite its age, citing high global demand as a key factor for participation.
Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expects a deal to be concluded swiftly, aiming for a price significantly higher than the previous government's animal feed valuation, potentially yielding 200 million baht in net revenue.
No reserve price was set, allowing bidders to determine the rice's value based on quality and intended use, with the ministry targeting Bt14-15/kg.
The successful sale is anticipated to mark the final conclusion of the controversial rice pledging scheme, which originated during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.