Myanmar junta FM briefs neighbours on election plans: Maris

13 Sept 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister, Than Swe, briefed officials from five neighboring countries (China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand) on the military's repeatedly delayed plans to hold elections.
The junta, which seized power in 2021, broadly indicated "progress is being made towards an election" in 2025, but no specific details or an exact date were discussed.
These talks, hosted by Thailand, precede informal discussions by the ASEAN bloc, which has made little progress in resolving the Myanmar crisis.
The military has repeatedly pushed back election timetables amidst a bloody crackdown on dissent and widespread opposition, with critics, including the United States, deeming any polls under the junta a "sham."

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.