Forest fires rage in several northern provinces as air quality deteriorates

13 Sept 13:53 Key points summarised by AI

Northern Thailand is experiencing widespread forest fires, leading to severe air quality deterioration with PM2.5 levels exceeding safe thresholds across multiple provinces, particularly in Mae Hong Son.
Firefighters and officials are actively battling blazes in critical areas like Chiang Mai and Lampang, implementing urgent measures such as surveillance cameras and volunteer checkpoints to control the spread and protect key locations.

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.