Thailand has the highest number of privately owned guns in ASEAN

23 Sept 03:24 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand leads ASEAN with over 10.3 million privately-owned guns recorded in 2017, as per the Small Arms Survey, indicating a high prevalence of firearms.
A significant portion of these firearms, over 4 million, are illegal, contributing to approximately 15 guns per 100 people in the country.
High prices for legal firearms push many individuals towards cheaper, illegal alternatives, despite a 'gun welfare program' allowing state officials to purchase discounted guns without quantity limits.
Royal Thai Police records from 2016-2019 show a much higher incidence of criminal cases involving illegal firearms (91,376) compared to legally registered ones (25,034).

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.