'Ripe for abuse': fears over new Thai refugee screening

23 Sept 01:52 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand is introducing a new National Screening Mechanism (NSM) on September 22 to differentiate between refugees and illegal migrants, despite not being a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.
Refugees and rights activists express significant concerns that the NSM is "ripe for abuse," fearing it could lead to unfair rejections, expedited deportations, and lacks transparency.
Key worries include broad "national security" provisions allowing rejections without explanation, the police heading the screening committee, and potential for corruption or ensnaring legitimate activists.
Thailand's past record of deporting refugees, such as Uyghurs and Cambodian dissidents, fuels distrust, with critics warning of a "dissident swap shop" with repressive governments.
Thai authorities assert the system respects privacy and confidentiality, adheres to non-refoulement, and allows appeals, aiming for a fair and transparent mechanism in line with international standards.

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.