US State Department says Thailand safe for tourists, warns of risks in south

11 Sept 01:33 Key points summarised by AI

The US State Department has updated its travel advisory, placing most of Thailand on a “Level 1” advisory, indicating it is generally safe for tourists with normal precautions, similar to countries like Iceland and New Zealand.
However, a “Level 2” advisory is issued for the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla due to periodic violence from insurgent activities, where the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services.

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.