Philippines flies workers home after Laos cyber scam crackdown

13 Sept 13:48 Key points summarised by AI

The Philippine government has begun repatriating its citizens from Laos following a major cyber scam crackdown at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The crackdown, which occurred on August 12, led to the arrest of 771 individuals from 15 countries in the economic zone, known for illicit activities.
A Philippine embassy team in Vientiane facilitated the release of 'distressed' overseas Filipinos, with seven already repatriated and plans to fly home 75 more.

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.