Former beauty queen Panadda "Boom" Wongphudee now serves as a voluntary spokesperson for Thailand's Ad Hoc Centre, actively countering fake news from Cambodia during recent border flare-ups.
She directly challenges allegations, such as debunked claims of chemical warfare, made by Cambodia's Defence Ministry, advocating for truth and peace in the conflict.
Driven by a deep love for her country, Panadda utilizes her extensive social media platform (4.4 million followers) to disseminate factual updates and promote honesty in international dialogue.
This new role aligns with her long-standing commitment to public service, which includes significant charity work, providing aid in conflict zones, and successful campaigns for harsher penalties against sex crimes.
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.