Two Thai trainees declared official members of new K-pop group BABYMONSTER

23 Sept 03:50 Key points summarised by AI

YG Entertainment officially announced the final seven-member lineup for its new K-pop girl group, BabyMonster, featuring two Thai trainees, Chiquita and Pharita.
Initially planned for five members, executive producer Yang Hyun Suk decided to include all seven trainees following fan discussions, with the group set to debut this year.

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.