Thai govt urged to form special team to cope with Trump’s trade policies

1 Oct 07:21 Key points summarised by AI

Thai experts urge the government to establish a special team to counter potential US tariffs under the Trump administration, citing Thailand's significant trade surplus with the US.
Thailand faces high risks of increased import tariffs due to its position as the 11th largest trade surplus holder with the US, alongside the threat of other countries dumping surpluses into ASEAN markets.
Proposed strategies include implementing standard controls against unfair trade, increasing imports of US farm, food, and energy products, and prioritizing the service sector where Thailand has a deficit.
Economists forecast a potential 0.35-0.4% shrinkage in Thailand's GDP, lowering this year's growth projection to 2.6-2.8%, due to these anticipated trade policies.

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.