Five days to Thai citizenship: New policy brings hope to stateless people in limbo
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Five days to Thai citizenship: New policy brings hope to stateless people in limbo
15 Sept 01:33Key points summarised by AI
Thailand introduces a landmark fast-track policy to grant legal status, residency, or citizenship to stateless individuals and migrants within five working days, drastically reducing previous wait times of six months to a year.
Over 480,000 people are expected to benefit from this expedited process, including displaced persons, ethnic minorities, and children born in Thailand to stateless parents, many of whom have waited decades for recognition.
Eligibility requires continuous residency of at least 15 years, a clean criminal record, and verified identity, with the new status promising improved access to healthcare, education, and unrestricted travel.
While welcomed, challenges remain as rights advocates highlight potential delays due to documentation issues and lack of awareness regarding official procedures among some applicants.
The policy represents a significant step towards inclusion, offering dignity, equality, and a sense of belonging, transforming lives and future generations by granting full citizen rights.
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.