Burma padauk timber worth Bt14m seized in Nong Khai

27 Sept 06:33 Key points summarised by AI

Officials seized 28 tonnes of illegally harvested Burma padauk timber, valued at 14 million baht, from a Chinese-owned warehouse in Nong Khai province.
The timber, smuggled from northern forest reserves, was destined for export to Vietnam or China via Laem Chabang port, serving expensive wooden furniture markets.

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.