New Program Offers Former Inmates a Green Path to Reintegration

11 Sept 13:39 Key points summarised by AI

The "Arborist Restart: New Day New Tree" program, a collaboration between Big Trees Project, TIJ's Restart Academy, and Social Giver, trains former inmates in arboriculture to facilitate their reintegration into society.
This initiative aims to combat high recidivism rates (nearly 12% within a year) by equipping participants with essential skills for a stable career, offering a viable alternative to reoffending.
The program creates a dual benefit: it provides former inmates with significant earning potential (up to 2,000 baht/day for certified arborists) and addresses the shortage of skilled arborists, simultaneously enhancing urban green spaces.
A pilot five-day basic training course involved 70 inmates and former inmates, with 30 selected for a subsequent workshop, demonstrating the program's commitment to cultivating a new generation of certified arborists and fostering a rehabilitative justice system.

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.