Education Ministry assigned to improve Thais’ English proficiency

13 Sept 21:30 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered the Education Ministry to rapidly improve English proficiency among Thais, especially students, after Thailand's poor global ranking.
Thailand ranked 101st out of 113 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index 2023, categorizing it as having "very low English proficiency" and trailing seven other ASEAN nations.
The country's average English score has shown no significant improvement since the index's introduction in 2011, indicating a long-standing challenge.
Proposed solutions include redesigning the English curriculum, implementing communication-focused teaching methods, upgrading teacher standards, and promoting after-school learning and teacher exchange programs.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.