Huge amounts of cash prepared for New Year revelers, say banks

13 Sept 10:52 Key points summarised by AI

Thai banks have collectively reserved over 131 billion baht in cash to ensure revelers have sufficient funds for the upcoming New Year festival.
Bangkok Bank prepared the largest amount, 40 billion baht, with state-run Krungthai Bank following closely at 39.39 billion baht, and other major banks also contributing substantial reserves.
These cash reserves are specifically allocated for the New Year celebration period from December 28, 2024, to January 3, 2025, and are accessible via ATMs, retail branches, and mobile banking services.

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.