PM unhappy with slow earthquake alerts, demands answers

13 Sept 06:19 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed strong dissatisfaction with the NBTC and PDPMD for significant delays in sending earthquake alerts via SMS.
During an emergency meeting, the PM demanded immediate explanations from agencies, highlighting the hour-plus gap between the 1:20 PM earthquake and the first public alerts at 2:44 PM.
Agencies cited system limitations, with NBTC admitting initial alerts reached only 200,000 users and took further time to disseminate more widely, despite claims of over 10 million messages sent.
The Prime Minister criticized the slow and insufficient coverage of the alert system, emphasizing the critical need for immediate rectification to ensure timely public notification.
Beyond alerts, the PM ordered an investigation into a collapsed building and mandated the opening of 50 public parks 24/7 for temporary shelter, while expressway authorities confirmed routes were safe and reopened.

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.