Corruption watchdog to appeal order to publish reports on Prawit’s wristwatch scandal

13 Sept 11:43 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will appeal a Supreme Administrative Court order to publicly disclose its investigation findings and reports on Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan's luxury wristwatches.
The NACC argues that revealing full investigative reports would jeopardize witness safety and deter future testimonies, comparing them to confidential police criminal reports.
NACC Secretary-General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol insists the commission operates transparently and has no intention of hiding findings, despite the court order and an upcoming meeting with activist Veera Somkwamkid.
The scandal stems from General Prawit being seen with numerous undeclared luxury watches, which he claimed were borrowed from a deceased friend, leading to the NACC clearing him of wrongdoing in 2018.

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.