UNESCO to consider Songkran as an intangible cultural heritage in December

13 Sept 07:58 Key points summarised by AI

UNESCO has tentatively approved the Songkran festival for inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list, with a final decision expected in December.
This move is anticipated to significantly boost the promotion of Songkran as a vital part of Thai identity and foster greater international recognition and understanding of Thai culture.

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.