Thai energy expert urges fuel price structure reforms

13 Sept 13:03 Key points summarised by AI

An energy expert from TDRI urges the Thai government to reform its fuel price structures, reduce overlapping taxes, and move away from unsustainable subsidies to mitigate economic vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations.
Thailand's high dependence on crude oil and gas imports (8% of GDP) makes its economy susceptible to global price volatility, impacting all sectors from transportation to farming, necessitating a gradual reduction in imports.
The expert advocates for easing policy constraints, such as the 'enhanced single buyer model', to attract private investment in domestic renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and bioenergy, boosting the country's energy security.
To navigate the global energy crisis, Thailand must prioritize strengthening energy resilience through strategic petroleum reserves, promoting increased domestic production, and ensuring a sufficient oil supply at fair prices.

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.