Chiang Mai votes: Goose or no goose?

12 Sept 08:19 Key points summarised by AI

Chiang Mai residents are voting on a trial project involving ten geese deployed to clean duckweed from the city moat and enhance the local landmark's beauty.
Initially, the geese caused traffic issues by panicking and running onto roads, but they have since adapted to their environment, now remaining within the moat.
The geese have attracted tourists and residents, making the area livelier, and officials claim a slight improvement in water quality.
Despite growing positive social media reactions, some residents express concerns about motorists stopping to photograph the geese, causing congestion, and potential unbearable noise if the planned increase to 200 geese occurs.

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.