The "Amazing Muay Thai Master Class in UK 2024" officially launched, drawing over 300 participants from 21 countries to learn the martial art.
This initiative aims to promote Thai martial arts, culture, and food globally, serving as a key element of Thailand's soft power strategy.
Thailand's sports soft power subcommittee plans to extend visas for foreigners studying Muay Thai and improve boxing camp standards to boost international interest.
Trainers expressed enthusiasm for foreign interest but highlighted a concern that some Thai people undervalue the profession, urging greater domestic support.
Future expectations include increased competition from foreign fighters, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and regular training among Thai boxers.
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.