Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the history of pregnant prime ministers

12 Sept 08:04 Key points summarised by AI

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is poised to become Thailand's first prime minister to raise a newborn while in office, as she is a leading candidate expecting her second child around the general election.
She follows a rare global precedent set by Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan, 1990) and Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand, 2018), the only two prime ministers to give birth while serving.
Bhutto secretly managed her pregnancy amid political struggles and faced criticism in a conservative society, while Ardern openly announced hers, took maternity leave, and was celebrated as a symbol of progressiveness.
The article highlights broader discussions about working mothers in high-profile roles, questioning why political leaders' pregnancies receive intense media scrutiny compared to female executives in other demanding fields.

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.