Sorphean Nhih, a 33-year-old Cambodian, has spent 15 years in Thailand, seeking better wages and opportunities through various jobs, now working long hours at a coffee shop.
She prioritizes saving money by working daily, taking on extra tasks, and benefiting from employer-provided housing shared with her husband, allowing them to cut down on expenses.
Her employer praises Sorphean's diligence and work ethic, noting the challenges Cambodian migrant workers face in obtaining proper documentation, though she is willing to assist with paperwork.
Sorphean plans to remain in Thailand, valuing the work environment and lifestyle, embodying the resilience of millions of other migrant workers navigating life in a foreign country.
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.