Lom Sak district in Phetchabun province faces its worst flooding in 20 years as the Pa Sak River overflows, inundating 11 communities and commercial areas with water levels reaching 50-100cm.
The strong currents breached floodwalls, making roads impassable, though residents had advance warnings and moved valuables to higher ground.
Emergency teams rescued three boys swept away by currents, while district officials are reinforcing floodwalls and assisting residents; water levels have started to fall, indicating a potential return to normalcy soon.
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.