CEO of Malaysia firm accused of child abuse says there were cases of sodomy

13 Sept 06:19 Key points summarised by AI

GISB Holdings CEO Nasiruddin Ali admitted to "one or two" cases of sodomy at charity homes linked to his firm, despite earlier denials of widespread abuse.
Police rescued 402 children from these homes, with health screenings revealing injuries consistent with physical and sexual abuse, and 13 children confirmed sodomized.
Authorities detained 159 people, froze GISB assets, and are investigating the firm for child abuse, exploitation, and potential financial offenses.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department will also report on GISB's suspected links to a banned religious sect and deviant teachings to the cabinet and religious councils.

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.