31 dead, 404 injured on the roads on second day of New Year holidays

13 Sept 11:12 Key points summarised by AI

The second day of New Year holidays recorded 31 deaths and 404 injuries from 385 road accidents, escalating the two-day toll to 71 fatalities and 739 injured.
Speeding (34.55%) and drunk driving (22.60%) were the primary causes of accidents, with motorcycles involved in over 85% of incidents, mainly occurring on main roads.
Khon Kaen reported the highest number of accidents, while Bangkok and Prachin Buri led in deaths, and Khon Kaen and Tak saw the most injured victims.
Authorities have been instructed to intensify blood-alcohol checks and ensure helmet compliance, anticipating a surge in drunk driving as holiday celebrations continue.

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.