Malaysians urged to postpone Thailand travel as fuel crunch bites

10 Sept 20:01 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysians are advised to postpone non-essential travel to southern Thailand, including popular destinations like Hat Yai and Songkhla, due to severe fuel shortages.
The scarcity stems from panic buying by Thai consumers, leading to depleted petrol stations, extensive queues, and imposed purchase limits.
The advisory, issued ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday, is expected to last approximately 10 days from March 16, though Thai authorities assure overall supply remains sufficient.
For those who must travel, it is crucial to fully fuel vehicles before crossing the border and consider early morning refuelling in Thailand.

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.