Close ally of Myanmar's Suu Kyi dies of leukaemia: source

18 Sept 05:57 Key points summarised by AI

Zaw Myint Maung, a 72-year-old senior leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) and a close confidante of Aung San Suu Kyi, died of leukaemia.
His death occurred shortly after his release from junta custody on health grounds, having been imprisoned following the 2021 military coup.
A lynchpin of the NLD, Myint Maung had a long history of activism, including leading a doctors' strike in 1988 and spending around two decades in prison for defying the military.
His passing is considered a significant loss for the NLD, which has been severely impacted by the junta's crackdown, including the dissolution of the party and the imprisonment of its leaders.

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.