Slow economic growth, lack of foreign investment are major challenges

21 Sept 07:14 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's economy grows at a slower pace (3% annually) than its neighbors, risking its status as a regional economic leader due to a significant lack of foreign investment.
Major impediments to foreign investment include excessive red tape and fewer free trade agreements compared to countries like Vietnam, which has surpassed Thailand in sectors like electronics production.
Economist Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool emphasizes that sustainable growth requires boosting investment, production restructuring, new innovations, and tourism expansion, rather than relying on policy rate cuts.
He advises the government to downsize its proposed 'digital wallet' scheme to a more manageable 300-350 billion baht, funded from the annual budget, to avoid borrowing and reduce opposition.
Despite current challenges, Kobsak asserts that Thailand is not on the brink of a 1997-style economic crisis, anticipating a gradual recovery for the global and Thai economies next year with predicted growth of 2.5-3%.

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.