ASEAN sets up interim RCEP bureau

13 Sept 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN establishes an interim bureau at its Jakarta headquarters to oversee the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
This temporary unit aims to strengthen regional supply chains and advance ASEAN economic integration, with aspirations to transition into a permanent RCEP Secretariat.

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.