Move Forward party leader emerges as top contender for PM in latest poll

14 Sept 02:35 Key points summarised by AI

Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward party leads the latest NIDA poll as the preferred candidate for Thailand's next prime minister, securing 35.44% support.
His closest rivals are Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Pheu Thai) with 29.20% and General Prayut Chan-o-cha (United Thai Nation) with 14.84%.
While Pheu Thai party leads in overall support for constituency MPs and party-list candidates, Move Forward demonstrates strong performance in these categories, ranking second.
Pita's surge in popularity is attributed to a significant swing of votes from Gen Z voters (aged 18-22), potentially enabling the Move Forward party to win over 100 House and party-list seats.
High attendance at Pita's recent campaign rallies in Bangkok and Phuket further indicates his growing momentum, particularly among younger demographics.

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.