Sangha Council pledges full cooperation in sex scandal investigations

15 Sept 21:08 Key points summarised by AI

The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's Buddhist governing body, has committed to fully cooperate with police in investigating sex scandals involving over 20 senior monks.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) deputy commissioner reported positive discussions, with the council agreeing to act against monks who obstruct investigations.
Over 20 senior monks are implicated in close or intimate relationships with a woman named 'Golf,' with seven already leaving the monkhood to avoid defrocking.
Police identified four additional senior monks who transferred money or engaged in Line chats with 'Golf' but refuse to leave the monkhood, some claiming the money was for merit making.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.