France to pay bonus for shoe, clothes repairs to cut waste

13 Sept 13:14 Key points summarised by AI

France will launch a bonus scheme in October to encourage people to repair clothes and shoes, aiming to significantly reduce the 700,000 tonnes of textile waste generated annually.
Consumers can claim between 7 and 25 euros for repairs from a dedicated 154 million euro fund set up for 2023-2028, with sewing workshops and shoemakers invited to join the system.
This initiative is part of a larger government reform to make the textile sector more sustainable, promoting traceability and financially supporting organizations that specialize in reusing and recycling clothing.

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.