Southern voters will abandon Democrat party in next general election - poll

13 Sept 12:22 Key points summarised by AI

A NIDA poll indicates 41% of respondents in 14 southern provinces will not vote for the Democrat party in the next general election.
The primary reason for this voter abandonment is strong disagreement (54.19%) with the Democrat party's decision to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.
A separate Suan Dusit Poll shows shifting public trust, with the People's party now holding the highest confidence (30.73%) among respondents.
Experts highlight the critical role of local elections and the relationship between local voters and politicians in determining national election outcomes, often overriding party affiliation.

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.