Will the gentle approach rid Thailand of its drug problem?

13 Sept 06:30 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's new Narcotics Act (B.E. 2564) reclassifies drug abusers as "patients," offering free rehabilitation instead of criminal penalties to reduce its high drug incarceration rates and encourage treatment.
Despite the new law, the number of people entering treatment has significantly dropped, and community leaders report limited voluntary participation, with drug-related crimes persisting and even escalating, as illustrated by a violent incident.
Experts argue that poverty and economic stress are primary drivers of drug abuse, advocating for the government to address these core issues and strengthen family support rather than solely relying on the new treatment-focused legal approach.

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.