Younger thais drive surge in ‘e-merit’ services, faith travel

13 Sept 13:49 Key points summarised by AI

Younger Thais are spearheading a digital transformation in traditional merit-making, opting for online platforms for offerings, donations, and proxy services due to modern lifestyles and convenience.
The 'e-merit' and spiritual tourism sector shows significant economic growth, with thousands of active entities and substantial registered capital, indicating a flourishing faith-based economy.
Businesses are innovatively adapting by offering diverse online 'proxy' services, from selecting offering sets and arranging delivery to temples, to specialized 'medical merit kits' and tiered monk-hosting ceremonies.
Faith-based travel is booming, with curated pilgrimage tours serving as a crucial economic engine that boosts local communities through increased demand for hospitality, food, transportation, and support for SMEs.
The Department of Business Development advises entrepreneurs to blend tradition with digital convenience to cater to modern consumer preferences, ensuring long-term stability and income distribution to the grassroots economy.

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.