Land bridge faces backlash as petition exceeds target overnight

11 Sept 08:00 Key points summarised by AI

An environmental group, EnLAW, initiated a nationwide petition titled “Stop SEC Act & Land Bridge” to oppose the government-backed Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) land bridge project.
The petition quickly garnered overwhelming public support, surpassing its 50,000-signature target overnight and reaching over 72,000 signatories, demonstrating widespread opposition.
EnLAW opposes the mega infrastructure project, which includes deep-sea ports and land reclamation, citing significant concerns about its potential adverse effects on green areas and local ecosystems.
The Chumphon–Ranong Land Bridge project, approved in principle in 2018, aims to link the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, serving as an alternative maritime trade route and positioning Thailand as a regional logistics hub.

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.