BMA authorised to manage troubled Green Line BTS train system - Interior Minister

13 Sept 14:06 Key points summarised by AI

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda granted the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) full authority over the Green Line BTS, encompassing its operating concession, fares, and significant construction debts.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, however, highlighted the complexity of the issues, including a 100-billion-baht debt and a criticized 65-baht maximum fare, insisting that final decisions require cabinet and ministry guidance.
Chadchart also objected to the premature 30-year extension of the operating concession with BTSC, noting the current contract still has seven years remaining.

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.