Orange eclipsed: Why Thailand’s progressive movement plunged in poll

13 Sept 14:37 Key points summarised by AI

The People's Party, the latest iteration of Thailand's progressive 'Orange wave,' suffered a significant electoral defeat, securing only 118 seats, a sharp decline from previous successes and far below its targets.
Voters withdrew support due to the party's perceived compromise of principles, specifically by backing a rival's prime ministerial bid and softening its bold reformist policies under legal pressure, thus blurring its distinct identity.
Campaigning weaknesses, including an over-reliance on online outreach that alienated rural communities and a less charismatic leader compared to predecessors, contributed to reduced voter engagement and turnout.
Ongoing legal challenges, such as potential disqualification for 44 MPs over the lèse-majesté law, and internal corruption allegations further eroded public trust and credibility.
A surge in nationalism during the Thai-Cambodia conflict also undermined the party's military reform agenda, while its criticisms of other parties backfired when its own candidates faced scrutiny.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.