Rayong records Thailand's first rabies fatality of the year: A 36-year-old Burmese man died two days after developing symptoms, having been bitten by a stray puppy in December without seeking medical care or vaccination.
Authorities urge prompt medical attention: The Department of Disease Control emphasizes that all rabies fatalities, including seven last year, involved victims who did not receive post-exposure prophylaxis, highlighting the critical need for immediate vaccination after animal bites.
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.