SRT agrees changes to design of Thai-Chinese high-speed train project

14 Sept 04:48 Key points summarised by AI

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) approved a design change for a section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed train in Nakhon Ratchasima, converting a ground-level track to a 7.85km elevated section due to public complaints.
This design modification will add 4.7 billion baht to construction costs and delay the project by an estimated 28 months, pushing completion back by over two years.
Phase 1 of the project, spanning Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is currently under construction, with 12 of 14 contracts already signed and work underway.
The Ayutthaya station faces unresolved issues due to environmental policy reservations, but SRT will not conduct a new Heritage Impact Assessment to avoid further project delays and increased expenses.

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.