Weaker baht may not help economy if COVID not contained

14 Sept 11:55 Key points summarised by AI

The baht's three-year low reflects Thailand's fragile economy, with surging COVID-19 cases, insufficient vaccination, and lockdowns severely impeding economic activity and nullifying potential export benefits.
Thailand's economy faces potential contraction and a predicted one million jobless by year-end if the pandemic persists, as business leaders express deep concern over the slow vaccine rollout.
Beyond COVID-19, the baht's weakness is driven by a significant current account deficit due to lost tourism, a strengthening US dollar, and low domestic interest rates that deter foreign capital, leading to foreign investors dumping Thai stocks.
Despite the weaker baht making Thailand cheaper, foreign tourists are deterred by high infection rates and travel warnings, severely impacting a crucial sector and hindering the country's reopening plans.

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.