Thai policeman sentenced to 50 years on bribery conviction

20 Sept 16:57 Key points summarised by AI

A Thai police officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison for demanding and accepting 65 bribes, totaling 641,000 baht, from a Bangkok massage parlor.
The officer received payments in exchange for not taking legal action against the parlor for alleged violations, with the court reducing an initial 325-year cumulative sentence to 50 years, adhering to Thai law.

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.