Auttapol faces formidable challenges as energy minister

15 Sept 08:09 Key points summarised by AI

Auttapol Rerkpiboon, former PTT CEO, is poised to become Energy Minister, inheriting immense challenges including persistent high electricity costs, allegations of industry collusion, and a short expected tenure.
He faces pressure to address deep-seated structural problems, moving beyond past short-term fixes, with immediate calls to delay new large-scale renewable electricity purchases and review existing concessions.
Key policy recommendations include expanding the household solar roof program, enabling them to sell excess power back to the grid, and accelerating Direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for businesses to buy renewables directly from producers.
The new minister must confront the daunting task of renegotiating long-term electricity purchase agreements, which critics argue are rooted in miscalculated demand and over-investment, leading to significant availability payments for non-operating plants.

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.