Contract for State Audit Office construction under scrutiny

10 Sept 07:58 Key points summarised by AI

The State Audit Office (SAO) faces intense scrutiny after its new 2.1 billion baht head office, under construction, collapsed following an earthquake, sparking criticism over the contract awarded to a Chinese-Italian joint venture.
Netizens urge the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Budget Bureau to investigate all aspects of the project, including design approval, pricing, and material acceptance.
Concerns mount as the SAO building was the sole high-rise under construction in the capital to collapse from the tremor, despite the SAO's role in auditing other state agencies.
The CSI LA Facebook page questioned the credibility of the Chinese contractor, 'China Railway No. 10 (Thailand)', reporting its office as an unimpressive shop house rather than a major construction company.

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.