Cambodia, Myanmar will top Sihasak’s foreign policy agenda

10 Sept 11:43 Key points summarised by AI

Newly appointed Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confronts the immediate challenge of a protracted border dispute with Cambodia, balancing diplomatic efforts to reopen trade routes against strong military and nationalist demands to maintain border closures.
Sihasak is poised to prioritize the destabilizing Myanmar civil war, aiming to facilitate an inclusive, free, and fair election accepted by ASEAN, building on his prior initiatives for humanitarian aid and engagement with the military regime.
His foreign policy initiatives are complicated by Thailand's fragile minority government and the military's significant influence, particularly in its reluctance to host an ASEAN Observer Team for the Cambodian border and the delicate task of engaging Myanmar without legitimizing its junta.

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.