Activist Ekachai sentenced to 21 years for blocking Queen’s motorcade

14 Sept 05:00 Key points summarised by AI

The Appeals Court overturned an acquittal, sentencing pro-democracy activist Ekachai Hongkangwan to 21 years in prison for attempting to endanger the liberty of Her Majesty the Queen.
Four co-defendants received 16-year sentences for similar charges, stemming from a 2020 anti-government protest where they temporarily stopped the Royal motorcade.

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.