Transport minister scraps planned trip to proposed land bridge sites

14 Sept 01:57 Key points summarised by AI

Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn cancelled his planned inspection trip to the land bridge mega project sites.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a new 90-day feasibility study, citing changed global geo-political conditions and the need for Thailand's own maritime strategy to reduce dependence on existing routes.
The Prime Minister highlighted the project's broader advantages in convenience, speed, and security, including food security, despite potentially limited cargo benefits, and dismissed concerns about it only benefiting big businesses.
Minister Phiphat emphasized waiting for the new study to cover environmental impacts and engaging affected communities to explain the project's pros, cons, and compensation.
Phiphat clarified that the land bridge project, a flagship policy since 2019, differs significantly from the older Kra Canal proposal.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 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.