Quiet Thai diplomacy on Myanmar pays off

11 Sept 09:14 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai conducted a historic, secret meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who expressed support for dialogue without preconditions.
ASEAN acknowledged Thailand's diplomatic engagement as a "positive development" while reaffirming the Five Point Consensus (5PC) and condemning the military junta's violence.
Thailand's "quiet diplomacy" aims to establish trust and communication channels, positioning itself as an honest broker to advance the peace process in Myanmar.
Myanmar agreed to channel humanitarian aid through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA), and ASEAN ministers will review the 5PC for future recommendations.

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.