Private sector submits urgent proposals to government to boost GDP

13 Sept 14:23 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai Chamber of Commerce submitted urgent proposals to the government, aiming to boost investor confidence, enhance SME competitiveness, and achieve sustainable growth, targeting a 3-5% GDP increase.
Key short-term proposals include accelerating the 2024 fiscal budget disbursement, stimulating local economies, and prioritizing 'digital wallet' cash benefits for vulnerable groups, followed by a 50:50 economic stimulus package.
The Chamber recommends cutting power, fuel, and property taxes, stabilizing necessary goods prices, and updating laws to promote private sector competitiveness.
For SMEs, proposals focus on promoting Thai products on e-commerce platforms and increasing exports, urging a shift to quality improvement over price competition with Chinese products.
Long-term strategies emphasize human resource development for new industries, advocating for learning centers and transforming teachers into facilitators.

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.