PM warns of stagflation risk, fast-tracks B400bn loan

13 Sept 21:12 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urgently pushed for a 400 billion baht loan to prevent national stagflation, citing the global oil crisis and its impact on food prices and living costs.
The Cabinet approved the Finance Ministry's decree to secure the domestic loan, specifically targeting low-income earners, farmers, and SMEs most affected by rising energy prices.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas confirmed the loan's necessity due to insufficient current funds and the urgency to address crises before the 2027 fiscal year budget, assuring public debt remains below 70% of GDP.
The 400 billion baht loan, reduced for fiscal discipline, will be divided to ease immediate public impacts and facilitate a strategic transition from fossil fuels to alternative clean energy.

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.