Singapore PM Lee to step down, deputy to take over May 15

23 Sept 01:46 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down on May 15, 2024, concluding his two-decade tenure as Singapore's leader.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, also the finance minister, will immediately succeed Lee, becoming the second non-Lee family member to lead the nation.
Wong, a 51-year-old US-educated economist, was chosen as Lee's heir-apparent in 2022, recognized for his effective leadership of the government's Covid-19 pandemic taskforce.
This leadership change signifies a generational shift, with Wong expected to introduce a new style of governance while upholding Singapore's core principles.

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.