Auditor general summoned over audit office collapse

11 Sept 19:03 Key points summarised by AI

The House Anti-Corruption Committee summoned Auditor General Monthien Charoenpol for April 30 to investigate the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building, suspecting corruption in its construction materials and methods.
Concerns were raised regarding the 2 billion baht project's funding, which came from the SAO's residual funds, bypassing the Budget Bureau and parliamentary approval due to its high cost.
Further allegations include the SAO's 2020 purchase of 2,000 unnecessary landline telephones for 13.6 million baht, highlighting a pattern of inflated and unneeded procurements within state agencies.
Opposition MP Rukchanok Srinork dismissed 'Feng Shui' as the cause of the collapse, asserting it stemmed from 'deeply-entrenched corruption' within government bureaucracy, citing luxurious spending for executives contrasted with cost-cutting on building quality.

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.