Bangkok declared emergency zone after powerful quake

13 Sept 15:16 Key points summarised by AI

The Prime Minister declared Bangkok an emergency zone following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter in neighboring Myanmar.
The quake caused a building under construction to collapse, resulting in one fatality and 43 people reported missing.
Widespread disruption occurred across the city, including suspended MRT services, telephone and internet signal outages, and mass evacuations as residents experienced unprecedented fear and structural swaying.

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.