Sihasak stresses border safety before checkpoint reopening

16 Sept 07:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's potential foreign minister, Sihasak Puangketkeow, prioritizes the safety of Thai citizens along the border and Cambodia's adherence to the General Border Committee agreement before considering any checkpoint reopenings.
Professor Dr. Puangthong Pawakapan highlights that reopening the border would significantly benefit Thailand, particularly for industrial supply-chain products supporting the 'Thailand Plus' policy, which aims to position Thailand as an assembly hub for foreign investors.
The border closure negatively impacts Japanese companies that invested in Cambodia based on Thailand's support promises, as well as Thai businesses operating in Cambodia, leading to an estimated 10 billion baht monthly loss in Thai exports.
Despite economic advantages and proposals from some officials, efforts to reopen the border face strong opposition from Thai nationalists and certain military figures, hindering the fulfillment of investment promises.

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.