What can a minority Thai government do for the economy in just 4 months
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What can a minority Thai government do for the economy in just 4 months
14 Sept 06:38Key points summarised by AI
Formed amidst political instability, the interim minority government seeks to restore confidence by appointing expert ministers, aiming to stabilize markets and provide a temporary resolution to the leadership vacuum.
While significant change is unlikely in four months, the government may implement targeted short-term economic support, such as reviving the popular co-payment scheme to aid lower-income groups and small businesses, rather than broad populist measures.
Key economic actions could include completing and adjusting the Power Development Plan to address high electricity costs, boosting the vital tourism sector, and accelerating budget disbursement to stimulate the economy.
The government faces immediate challenges in navigating ongoing tariff negotiations with the US and exploring opportunities like normalizing border trade with Cambodia to mitigate economic risks and foster growth.
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.