Philippine bishops instruct flock to pray for rain, heat relief

13 Sept 13:56 Key points summarised by AI

Philippine Catholic bishops have called on their flock to recite special prayers ("Oratio Imperata") for divine intervention to bring rain and relief from the severe heatwave.
The extreme heat has forced the closure of tens of thousands of schools nationwide and strained the country's power supply.
An ongoing El Nino drought is exacerbating the problem, causing 5.9 billion pesos ($103 million) in agricultural damage.
Record-high temperatures, including 38.8 degrees Celsius in Manila, underscore the urgency of the situation, leading to extensive school closures.

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.