Myanmar marks coup anniversary with silent strikes

17 Sept 12:38 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar citizens observed a widespread 'silent strike' on February 1, 2022, marking the first anniversary of the military coup by staying indoors and deserting public spaces.
The military regime aggressively attempted to thwart the strike, threatening businesses with treason charges, issuing public warnings, and organizing counter-events to entice people out.
Despite severe risks, various forms of resistance persisted, including flash protests in heavily policed cities and armed marches by citizens and People's Defence Force (PDF) members in contested regions.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing reiterated claims of 2020 election fraud and pledged 'free and fair' elections by August 2023, contingent on national stability.

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.