Southern oil palm farmers complain of falling prices

13 Sept 07:02 Key points summarised by AI

Oil palm farmers in southern Thailand report a significant drop in crop prices to an average of five baht per kilogram, which they claim is below their production costs.
The farmers' financial strain is severely worsened by fertilizer prices skyrocketing to about 2,000 baht per 100kg sack, tripling from the previous year, with some unable to afford essential fertilization.

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.