Myawaddy stalemate could pressure warring parties to talk -- Sihasak

13 Sept 13:17 Key points summarised by AI

Vice Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow believes a prolonged stalemate in the Myawaddy conflict could compel Myanmar's warring parties to consider mediation, akin to China's role in northern Myanmar.
Thailand has declared its readiness to act as a mediator, with Foreign Minister Parnpree and Vice Minister Sihasak confirming initial discussions and offering facilities for dialogue between the Myanmar military and anti-government forces.
Thailand stresses the importance of ASEAN unity and a more active regional role to send a strong signal to all sides in Myanmar, urging them to end the violence and engage in peace talks.

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.