EC spared Bt62m payout as top court dismisses ex-Pheu Thai MP lawsuit

12 Sept 00:42 Key points summarised by AI

The Supreme Court overturned lower court rulings, dismissing a lawsuit against the Election Commission (EC) and sparing it from paying Bt62 million in compensation to former Pheu Thai MP Surapol Kietchaiyakorn.
The lawsuit originated from the EC voiding Surapol's 2019 election win and suspending him for donating 2,000 baht to a monk, a decision later cleared by the Supreme Court as a traditional practice.
Surapol had sought 70 million baht in compensation from the EC for its wrongful act and tarnished reputation, with lower courts initially ordering the EC to pay (reduced to Bt62 million by the Appeals Court).
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the EC had reasonable grounds to suspect a breach of law and found no evidence of ill intentions, thus dismissing the case and reversing the compensation orders.

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.