PM asks top bankers to cut lending rates

13 Sept 11:20 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged top Thai bankers to reduce lending rates for "fragile" groups, such as small entrepreneurs, to ease their financial burden.
The informal meeting addressed the general economic situation and the impact of high policy interest rates, following the Bank of Thailand's decision to maintain the policy rate at 2.5% despite government calls for a cut.

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.