TAT working on details of extended Songkran celebrations

21 Sept 05:34 Key points summarised by AI

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning extended Songkran celebrations from April 1 to 21, with upcoming meetings to finalize event details, locations, and budget with relevant ministries and the private sector.
Festivities will be concentrated in key locations such as Bangkok (Siam Square, Icon Siam, temples), Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai, with a special 'Midnight Songkran' event in Hat Yai targeting Malaysian tourists.
Leveraging Songkran's recent UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status, TAT is positioning the festival as a major tourism draw, anticipating high tourist numbers, particularly after successful Chinese New Year celebrations.
This extended celebration is part of a broader strategy to boost tourism year-round, with optimistic forecasts for overall tourist arrivals and ongoing efforts to promote diverse festivals and activities.

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.