Thailand's next central bank chief champions rate cuts to revive growth

13 Sept 07:08 Key points summarised by AI

Incoming Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn, set to take office in October, acknowledges a difficult economic landscape marked by stalled growth and tepid industrial sentiment.
Vitai advocates for "proactive easing" through aggressive and prolonged interest rate cuts, suggesting the current 1.75% rate could be reduced significantly further to stimulate the economy.
His stance on deeper rate cuts aligns with the ruling Pheu Thai party's previous criticisms of the central bank, potentially easing political friction.
Vitai has publicly affirmed his commitment to independent decision-making, assuring that his decisions will be based on national interests, free from external influence.

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.