Cambodian govt musters support from huge crowds in Thai border row
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Cambodian govt musters support from huge crowds in Thai border row
14 Sept 13:15Key points summarised by AI
Tens of thousands of Cambodians rallied in Phnom Penh, demonstrating strong public support for the government's actions in the escalating border dispute with Thailand.
Cambodia escalated the dispute by referring it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following a fatal clash, aiming for peaceful resolution and to prevent further military confrontation.
Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that while seeking peace, Cambodia has imposed economic and cultural sanctions, including banning Thai imports and dramas, asserting that a return to normalcy depends on Thailand's response.
The border conflict, rooted in early 20th-century French colonial demarcation, has seen previous ICJ rulings favor Cambodia, though Thailand has historically rejected the court's jurisdiction in such matters.
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.