Pheu Thai warned not to “mess with” decade-old rice pledging scheme

13 Sept 13:56 Key points summarised by AI

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai publicly consumed 10-year-old rice from a government warehouse, aiming to demonstrate its edibility and safety despite its age.
Whistleblower Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom strongly cautioned Pheu Thai against 'playing with fire,' asserting that decade-old rice is unfit for consumption due to potential toxins and questioning past failed auction attempts.
The ministry's plan to sell 15,000 tonnes of this old rice to African countries for 200 million baht sparked warnings from critics, including Democrat spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng, about potentially ruining Thailand's global rice export reputation.
Opponents view the minister's PR stunt as an attempt to whitewash the infamous, corruption-plagued rice pledging scheme, potentially reviving the scandal rather than resolving it.

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.