Thailand's amnesty debate hits lese majeste roadblock

13 Sept 15:14 Key points summarised by AI

Thai lawmakers widely agree on an amnesty for political crimes but remain sharply divided on whether to include sensitive lese majeste offenses (Article 112).
A recent House vote against a report that excluded lese majeste from amnesty underscores deep political rifts, with even ruling coalition members split on the issue.
While several amnesty bills are proposed, only the People's Amnesty Network's draft explicitly covers lese majeste, contrasting with the ruling Pheu Thai and other major parties who oppose its inclusion.
The ongoing exclusion of lese majeste from amnesty is seen as a significant obstacle to national reconciliation and resolving Thailand's persistent political conflicts.

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.