World Bank VP suggests flood controls for sustainable economy in Thailand

12 Sept 01:07 Key points summarised by AI

World Bank VP Manuela V. Ferro urges Thailand to prioritize climate-resilient development, particularly flood control, offering World Bank support to accelerate a key Chao Phraya River basin project from 20 to 6-7 years to sustain economic growth.
Ferro cautions against the 'digital wallet' scheme, citing inflation risks, and recommends redirecting funds towards long-term investments in education, engineering, or strategic flood controls.
Emphasizing human capital, Ferro stresses the need for Thailand to invest in education and skilled labor to attract foreign investment, capitalize on global supply chain shifts, and advance towards a higher-value, greener economy.
Highlighting Thailand's strategic ASEAN location, Ferro advises simplifying business processes, expanding critical infrastructure, and boosting regional connectivity (transport, trade, digital) to enhance competitiveness and secure sustained economic growth.

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.