Japan is ASEAN’s new comprehensive strategic partner

15 Sept 23:28 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN will elevate Japan to a Comprehensive Strategic Partner (CSP) at the upcoming ASEAN summit, recognizing its significant contributions to the region's development and integration.
This new status, announced on September 6th, places Japan among an elite group of ASEAN partners including China, Australia, the US, and India.
To further solidify ties, Japan has proposed dozens of new initiatives spanning digital transformation, green economy, public health, and maritime cooperation, forming a new vision for future relations.
The partnership milestone coincides with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship, to be celebrated at a special summit in Tokyo in December.

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.