Further return to normal not necessarily good

20 Sept 16:02 Key points summarised by AI

The post-pandemic "return to normal" is marked by a dangerous complacency, as humans resume pre-COVID activities without fully addressing the lessons or divisions exposed by the crisis.
The pandemic failed to unite the world, with major powers prioritizing political rivalries and profit-taking over collaborative efforts in vaccine development and global health.
As COVID-19 recedes, human-induced conflicts, ideological divisions, and pre-existing risks are intensifying, leaving the world dangerously unprepared for future threats and potential manmade disasters.

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.