Mingkwan Saengsuwan: Marketing wizard conjures bid to become next prime minister

13 Sept 15:07 Key points summarised by AI

Mingkwan Saengsuwan, a renowned marketing expert, has joined Thailand's ruling Palang Pracharath Party as its economic team head, controversially revealing a promise to be one of its prime ministerial candidates.
His unconventional public disclosure of this private political deal has caused discomfort among party leaders and is viewed by analysts as a risky move that could lead to internal animosity and potentially shorten his tenure.
Observers question his qualifications as an 'economic czar,' suggesting his primary role might be to 'rebrand' the party, leveraging his extensive background in marketing and public relations.
This move marks his fifth political affiliation, following a history of joining and leaving various parties, often due to internal disagreements, including those previously linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

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.