Inside the sex scandal rocking Thai Buddhism

9 Sept 13:53 Key points summarised by AI

A significant sex scandal is currently eroding public faith in Thai Buddhism, with multiple senior monks being defrocked for violating their celibacy vows.
Recent high-profile cases include an abbot forced to disrobe after admitting to affairs with eight women, and another defrocked for siphoning temple funds for online sex calls.
Such breaches of celibacy are not new; historical records indicate similar scandals have plagued Thai monasticism for centuries, prompting royal interventions and strict guidelines.
The National Office of Buddhism now advises monks on identifying and avoiding women who may attempt to seduce them, emphasizing vigilance and immediate termination of contact if intentions are impure.

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.