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PM has backup plan should digital wallet loan bill be rejected by Council of State

21 Sept 03:15 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a 'Plan B' for the controversial 500 billion baht digital wallet scheme, anticipating potential rejection of the loan bill by the Council of State.
The PM emphasized the critical state of the Thai economy, asserting the necessity of a massive financial injection to stimulate it, with the digital wallet scheme being a key measure.
Former Finance Minister Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee described Thailand's economy as a 'bleeding patient,' expressing deep concern over worsening liquidity, capital outflows, and commercial banks' reluctance to extend loans.
Dr. Surapong cited alarming economic indicators, including 1 trillion baht in negative liquidity in August, household debt at 90.6% of GDP with 7.4% non-performing loans, and an expected full-year growth rate below 2%.

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.