Thailand begins national mourning for the passing of the Queen Mother

10 Sept 21:31 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai government declared a 30-day national mourning period, advising entertainment businesses to suspend or scale down activities and ordering flags flown at half-mast.
The public immediately responded with profound grief, gathering at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital to mourn and pay tribute to the late Queen Mother.
A cabinet-led committee, headed by the prime minister, has been established to meticulously organize the state funeral, with various sub-committees handling specific responsibilities.
Public agencies are tasked with facilitating public tributes and ensuring clear communication, including preparing English texts for international understanding of the funeral procedures.

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.