Philippines says 'ready' to chair ASEAN in 2026 instead of Myanmar

23 Sept 01:56 Key points summarised by AI

The Philippines announced its readiness to chair ASEAN in 2026, stepping in for Myanmar amidst its ongoing internal crisis.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated this move aims to fortify ASEAN's community-building and navigate a new chapter for the bloc.
The decision by ASEAN leaders was made to prevent Myanmar's political turmoil from dominating the bloc's agenda and to ensure smooth engagement with external partners.
The switch was prompted by Myanmar's military junta largely failing to implement a two-year-old five-point peace plan agreed upon by ASEAN.

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.