377 Chinese tourists arrive in Phuket and Chiang Mai on Wednesday

1 Oct 09:50 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand welcomed 377 Chinese tourists on direct flights to Chiang Mai and Phuket, marking the first such arrivals in nearly three years since China lifted its travel restrictions.
Senior officials greeted passengers from Shanghai, with Chiang Mai airport confirming five Chinese airlines have secured permissions for multiple daily and weekly routes, signaling a significant return of Chinese tourism to the region.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.