Many ASEAN meetings and negotiations go unreported - ASEAN Sec Gen

13 Sept 15:45 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn revealed that many crucial ASEAN meetings and negotiations go unreported, stressing that a lack of media coverage does not mean officials are inactive.
Dr. Hourn outlined key ASEAN priorities: strengthening community building, increasing regional awareness, and enhancing connectivity, including promoting visa-free travel for citizens.
ASEAN navigates significant internal challenges like the Myanmar crisis, cybersecurity, and an aging population, alongside external issues such as trade growth, South China Sea negotiations, and global conflicts.
The organization is actively developing its digital economy, with an initial study predicting a US$1 trillion contribution by 2030, and is commissioning further research to leverage this potential.
ASEAN aims to improve public communication regarding its extensive work, acknowledging that some ongoing negotiations remain confidential but striving to convey the benefits of its efforts.

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.