No honeymoon, only huge challenges and expectations for new Bangkok chief Chadchart

13 Sept 13:44 Key points summarised by AI

Newly elected Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, despite a record landslide win, rejects any 'honeymoon period,' immediately focusing on delivering promises amidst high public expectations.
His immediate agenda includes tackling critical issues like seasonal flooding, public safety, street vendors, and the contentious 40-billion-baht BTS Green Line debt and contract disputes.
Operating with a severely limited budget for the current fiscal year, Chadchart must find innovative, low-cost solutions and push for deep structural changes to outdated city regulations to implement his policies effectively and empower residents.

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.