Has Thailand struck jackpot in latest bid to combat lottery overpricing?
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Has Thailand struck jackpot in latest bid to combat lottery overpricing?
13 Sept 06:56Key points summarised by AI
Thailand's Government Lottery Office (GLO) launched digital ticket sales via the "Pao Tang" app to combat chronic overpricing, a persistent issue where tickets sold above the legal 80-baht limit.
The new online channel achieved rapid success, selling over 5 million digital tickets at the official 80-baht price within five days, demonstrating strong public demand for fair-priced lottery access.
This digital initiative follows numerous failed attempts by past governments to control inflated lottery prices, often driven by vendors citing low profit margins and high wholesale costs.
The lottery remains immensely popular in Thailand, generating significant state revenue, with a substantial player base, particularly among low-income individuals.
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.