Thai economists worry about effect of Israeli-Hamas conflict on oil price

2 Oct 12:26 Key points summarised by AI

Thai economists express concern that an escalation of the Israeli-Hamas conflict could drive global oil prices up to US$95 per barrel, further straining Thailand's oil fuel fund.
If the conflict involves the United States and Iran, it would severely disrupt the energy supply chain, potentially increasing the oil fuel fund's deficit from 68 billion to 130 billion baht.
While direct economic impact on Thailand from Israel is limited, rising global oil prices would directly affect the country due to its reliance on imported oil, prompting calls for voluntary energy conservation.
The Energy Ministry has a contingency plan, including boosting crude oil reserves to 70 days and finished product reserves for two months, and negotiating excise tax extensions to manage potential price fluctuations.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.