Criminal Court acquits former park chief of defamation charges

13 Sept 06:07 Key points summarised by AI

Former park chief Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn was acquitted by the Criminal Court of defamation charges.
The charges originated from a 2022 sting operation orchestrated by Chaiwat, which led to the arrest of Ratchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya, then director-general, for allegedly demanding bribes for promotions.
The court ruled that Chaiwat acted without ill intent, finding his accusations were based on a legitimate complaint filed with anti-corruption police regarding unfair transfers.
Chaiwat plans to submit the acquittal verdict to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

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.