PM urges MPC to call a special meeting to review policy rate

13 Sept 13:43 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to convene a special meeting immediately to review its 2.5% policy rate, rather than waiting for the scheduled April 10 meeting.
The PM cited critical economic performance figures from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and proposed a 25 basis point rate cut to 2.25% to alleviate the public's financial burden.
He emphasized Thailand's decade-long average GDP growth below 2% and downward economic revisions, stressing the need for new money injection, which is currently delayed by the 2024 budget disbursement.
NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan supported the call for a review, also suggesting that the central bank examine other financial issues like credit card interest rates and lending/deposit rate spreads.

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.