Orphanage in Chiang Mai investigated for alleged mistreatment of children

14 Sept 06:10 Key points summarised by AI

A privately-run orphanage in Chiang Mai is under investigation for alleged child abuse and mistreatment by its staff.
A former babysitter detailed severe punishments, including forcing children to eat chili, sit in direct sunlight, and endure physical abuse for wetting pants or misbehaving.
A 'powerful' female welfare official and several babysitters are accused of carrying out these punishments, prompting calls for the orphanage's management to be removed.
Previous incidents, such as a child suffering a fungal infection from chili and the re-hiring of previously fired staff, underscore the facility's ongoing issues with child welfare.

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.