IMF issues growth warning as it lowers 2023 forecast

13 Sept 23:15 Key points summarised by AI

The IMF lowered its 2023 global economic growth forecast to 2.8%, attributing the revision to high inflation, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and recent financial stability concerns, though most countries are still expected to avoid a recession.
Advanced economies, including Germany and the UK, are projected to experience slowing growth or contraction, contrasting with strong growth in emerging markets like China and India, which are set to account for half of global economic expansion.
While global inflation is expected to ease, it remains significantly above central bank targets; the IMF also warns of a long-term slowdown, forecasting global growth to fall to 3% by 2028, the lowest medium-term outlook since the 1990s, due to factors like slowing population growth and low productivity.

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.