Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race

14 Sept 02:28 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysia's general election is a closely contested race with no single coalition expected to secure a clear majority, potentially prolonging political instability.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's coalition is forecast to win the most parliamentary seats but is likely to fall short of the majority needed to form a government.
Anwar faces strong competition from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Barisan and former Premier Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional, with a significant number of undecided voters making the outcome uncertain.
The lack of a decisive winner could exacerbate economic challenges like slowing growth and rising inflation, as political focus remains diverted from crucial development issues.

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.