Myanmar’s netizens argue whether Songkran should be part of World Heritage

14 Sept 02:06 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar netizens reacted strongly to news of Thailand's submission of the Songkran New Year festival to UNESCO for World Heritage status.
Many argued that similar New Year celebrations are shared across Southeast Asian countries and should not be exclusively claimed by Thailand.
Commenters expressed frustration over Myanmar's perceived failure to protect its own cultural heritage, contrasting it with neighboring nations' efforts amidst internal strife.
Some criticized Myanmar's Thingyan festival as merely an excuse for revelry, suggesting a lack of cultural preservation compared to Thailand's diligent efforts.

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.