NGOs join forces to investigate contamination of Kok and Sai rivers

13 Sept 14:37 Key points summarised by AI

Three organizations, Green Peace Thailand, Chiang Mai University, and EARTH, are collaborating to investigate transboundary pollution in the Kok and Sai rivers in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces.
The joint effort responds to calls from civil society and local communities to assess the extent of contamination and its long-term health and environmental impacts.
Provincial authorities have already detected high levels of heavy metals in the rivers, indicating a serious health threat, with the cross-border nature of the pollution complicating solutions for state agencies.
The NGOs plan to gather comprehensive data to support future multi-party and multi-government talks aimed at addressing the complex issue, with immediate concerns over the contamination level of mud post-flooding.

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.