Late PM Samak’s family ordered to pay ฿587m baht compensation to BMA

14 Sept 05:15 Key points summarised by AI

The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld a lower court's ruling, ordering the immediate family of the late Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to pay ฿587 million plus interest to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The court found Samak, during his tenure as Bangkok governor, accountable for approving an overpriced 2004 deal for fire trucks and fire-fighting boats without proper examination.
As beneficiaries of Samak's estate, his widow and two daughters are mandated to compensate the BMA for damages stemming from the scandalous 6.6 billion baht procurement with an Austrian company.

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.