Self-proclaimed philanthropic tycoon Prasit Jeawkok sentenced to 1,155 years

14 Sept 17:32 Key points summarised by AI

Thai tycoon Prasit Jeawkok received a 1,155-year prison sentence for 321 counts of fraud, though he will serve a maximum of 20 years under Thai law.
Prasit and two co-defendants were fined 145 million baht and ordered to pay approximately one billion baht in compensation to 321 victims.
He operated a Ponzi scheme from 2020-2021, promising lucrative returns through various investment ventures.
Prasit cultivated an image as a successful businessman and philanthropist, claiming significant charitable contributions while allegedly defrauding investors.

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.