Phumtham Wechayachai: Champion of Yingluck Shinawatra rides into rice battle

14 Sept 21:06 Key points summarised by AI

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is aggressively defending the quality of 15,000 tonnes of decade-old rice from former PM Yingluck Shinawatra's controversial subsidy scheme, threatening legal action against critics.
The minister's 'rice-eating event' to prove the grain's edibility is challenged by veteran politician Warong Dechgitvigrom, who previously exposed the scheme that led to Yingluck's conviction.
Critics suggest Phumtham's actions aim to 'whitewash' Yingluck, potentially facilitating her return to Thailand without serving prison time, mirroring her brother Thaksin's recent return.
Despite Phumtham's assurances of safety after polishing, academics and experts express concerns about potential contamination from fungus, germs, and carcinogenic pest-control agents in the long-stored rice.
Phumtham, a powerful figure in the ruling Pheu Thai Party, maintains a long history of loyalty to the Shinawatra family, consistently defending Yingluck and her government's actions related to the rice scheme.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.