British ‘Tantra Yoga’ teacher busted on Koh Phangan for working illegally

10 Sept 22:01 Key points summarised by AI

British national Maria Shchetinina was arrested on Koh Phangan for allegedly offering Tantra yoga classes to tourists without a work permit.
In a separate operation, two Azerbaijani men, Aflan Almas and Sarkhan Jumshudlu, were detained for illegally working as electricians on the island.
These arrests are part of an intensified police crackdown on undocumented foreign workers on Koh Phangan, with authorities warning that anyone aiding illegal employment faces prosecution.

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.