Jakrapob Penkair: Red-shirt founder on mission to repatriate Thailand’s political exiles

13 Sept 14:14 Key points summarised by AI

Jakrapob Penkair, a prominent red-shirt leader and former minister, returned to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile, immediately facing arrest and bail for charges including illegal group involvement and firearms possession.
His homecoming signals a potential influx of other political exiles allied with Thaksin Shinawatra, as Jakrapob announced his mission to help arrange their repatriation to face criminal charges following perceived “positive changes” in Thailand.
Jakrapob's exile began in 2009 due to lese majeste accusations and was prolonged by further charges from the junta, including an alleged plot to incite violence and illegal weapons possession.
A key figure in Thai politics, he served as a spokesman and minister under Thaksin Shinawatra and was a co-founder of the red-shirt movement, advocating for democracy against post-coup governments.

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.