Srettha’s enthusiastic outreach yet to bear fruit for Thailand’s economy

14 Sept 20:32 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vigorously engaged international leaders and investors to restore confidence and attract foreign capital to Thailand, actively rebuilding the country's image.
Despite extensive travels and meetings, these efforts have yielded few tangible economic breakthroughs, with major initiatives like the ambitious 1-trillion-baht land bridge project struggling to secure strong foreign investment commitments.
A notable success includes a permanent free-visa agreement with China, which has demonstrably boosted Chinese tourist arrivals, a crucial sector for the Thai economy.
Critics highlight the Thai economy's persistent structural flaws, Srettha's focus on populist policies, and limited progress in high-tech investments, questioning the long-term effectiveness of his administration's strategies.

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.