Protesters call on Malaysian PM to drop Thaksin as chief advisor

12 Sept 10:05 Key points summarised by AI

Hundreds of protesters in Bangkok called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to revoke his appointment of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as his chief advisor.
Protesters submitted a petition, highlighting Thaksin's status as a convicted criminal guilty of corruption, who evaded his prison sentence and faces ongoing legal charges, including a lèse-majesté case.
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim denied interfering in Thai politics, stating he appointed Thaksin, an 'old personal friend,' to utilize his experience and extensive network for ASEAN-related work.

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.