Thai-Lao leaders to discuss online scams

13 Sept 13:26 Key points summarised by AI

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone will pay an official visit to Thailand to strengthen bilateral ties, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Discussions with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will address economic cooperation, connectivity, people-to-people exchanges, and shared challenges like online scams, narcotics, human trafficking, and PM2.5 pollution.
The visit aims to boost economic ties, including working towards a US$11 billion bilateral trade target by 2025 and expediting a new railway bridge over the Mekong River to enhance cross-border rail freight.
PM Sonexay is also scheduled to open the Thai-Lao Business Forum in Bangkok, further promoting economic activities and cooperation between the two nations.

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.