NBTC urged to accelerate consideration of True-DTAC merger plan

13 Sept 13:21 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) and Norway's Telenor are pressuring the NBTC to swiftly issue conditions for their subsidiaries' (True Corp and DTAC) planned merger.
CP and Telenor assert the NBTC has regulatory authority over the merged entity but no power to approve or reject the merger itself.
CP Chief Executive Suphachai Chearavanont argues the merger will not lead to a mobile service monopoly, citing a combined market share below 48% and high customer churn.
The companies aim to proceed with a share swap in August, as planned since the January submission, to maintain shareholder and stock market confidence.
Despite the urgency, three of the four NBTC panels studying the merger are reportedly in disagreement with the plan.

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.