Elites vs the people: Inside Thailand’s constitutional battle

10 Sept 19:47 Key points summarised by AI

Conservative elites are fiercely resisting efforts to draft a new, people-driven constitution, aiming to maintain their entrenched political dominance through the existing 2017 charter and its power structures.
The Constitutional Court has significantly complicated reform by mandating a three-referendum process and ruling against a directly elected Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA), decisions analysts interpret as safeguarding elite interests and hindering progressive change.
The constitutional reform movement faces an uphill battle due to public skepticism, with many citizens perceiving no direct benefits, while conservative parties, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai, are strategically positioned to block amendments despite prior commitments.
Recent political developments, particularly the ascendancy of Bhumjaithai, signal a strategic resurgence of conservative influence, aiming to solidify a 'new order' and reassert control over Thailand's political landscape.

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.