Bt51 billion forecast in spending during Chinese New Year festival

13 Sept 10:53 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand forecasts 51 billion baht in spending during the Chinese New Year festival, marking a 4.5% increase from last year and the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
This significant spending surge is primarily driven by the government's 'digital wallet' scheme, distributing 40 billion baht to seniors, and the 'Easy e-Receipt' tax deduction program.
The Easy e-Receipt program aims to encourage greater consumer spending, thereby stimulating the economy.
Despite a recent incident involving Chinese actor Wang Xing, its impact on Thai tourism is projected to be minimal and short-term, causing an estimated damage of no more than 14 billion baht and a 0.01% drop in GDP.

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.