Malaysian surge lifts Hat Yai economy during Songkran

14 Sept 09:31 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysian tourists are significantly boosting Hat Yai's economy during Songkran, providing a crucial recovery after recent devastating floods and the ongoing energy crisis.
The 'Hat Yai Midnight Songkran 2026' campaign anticipates over 100,000 visitors and a projected 700 million baht in local economic circulation.
Despite massive border traffic and high visitor numbers, local vendors note a cautious spending trend among tourists compared to pre-flood years.
The festival underscores Hat Yai's resilience, transforming the traditional event into a major regional draw and signaling Southern Thailand's renewed economic vitality.

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.