Bangkok governor rejects tourism minister’s plan to reopen capital on Oct 15

13 Sept 19:53 Key points summarised by AI

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang rejected the Tourism Minister's plan to reopen the capital to fully vaccinated international arrivals on October 15th.
The governor cited the critical need to vaccinate at least 70% of the city's population with two doses and enhance infection prevention measures before any reopening.
Currently, only about 40% of Bangkok's adult population is fully vaccinated, with the 70% target anticipated by October 22nd; City Hall will ultimately determine the reopening date.
While Bangkok's reopening is delayed, four other provinces—Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan—are still scheduled to reopen on October 1st, pending final government approvals.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.