Yala and Narathiwat explosions greet Thaksin’s arrival in Deep South

13 Sept 23:18 Key points summarised by AI

Suspected insurgents detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Yala and Narathiwat, coinciding with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's first visit to the restive Deep South in 20 years.
The Yala explosion injured seven officials and four civilians, resulting in one civilian fatality, while the Narathiwat airport blast caused minor damage but no injuries.
Despite the incidents, officials assured that Thaksin's visit would proceed, with security heightened as he continued with meetings with Buddhist and Muslim community leaders.
Thaksin's visit occurs amidst lingering painful memories among many Thai Muslims of the 2004 'Tak Bai massacre,' which took place during his premiership and for which no one was punished.

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.