Cambodia shelves first ASEAN meeting over attendance 'difficulties'

23 Sept 06:29 Key points summarised by AI

Cambodia postponed its initial ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting due to several members citing "difficulties" in attending.
The decision highlights deep divisions within ASEAN regarding its approach to Myanmar's military junta, which seized power last year.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent visit to Myanmar's military ruler drew international concern, potentially undermining efforts to isolate the junta.
As the new ASEAN chair, Cambodia signals "different approaches" to the Myanmar crisis, contrasting with the previous chair's stance of sidelining the junta.

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.