Global political instability intensifies, with the United States facing unprecedented turmoil from a presidential conviction and deep societal divisions, while Thailand grapples with complex legal challenges involving former and current leaders.
Governments in both nations are grappling with significant legal and ethical crises, including controversial appointments, accusations of influence-peddling, and declining public trust, raising fundamental questions about accountability and governance.
The international order is under strain as U.S. global popularity wanes due to its stance on the Gaza conflict, and international justice bodies struggle to assert authority against powerful states, highlighting a volatile and unpredictable geopolitical landscape.
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.