Discarded household items blamed for blocking flow in Bangkok’s main canals

15 Sept 03:13 Key points summarised by AI

Discarded household items, such as mattresses and furniture, are severely obstructing Bangkok's main canals, hindering the crucial flow of water into the Chao Phraya River.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) extracts 5-10 tonnes of garbage daily and urges city dwellers to stop illegal dumping, encouraging them to contact district offices for proper disposal services instead.

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.