Commerce minister defends US GMO maize deal amid farmers’ concerns

15 Sept 21:06 Key points summarised by AI

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun reassures local farmers that a deal allowing US GMO maize imports will not harm domestic prices or incomes.
The minister clarifies that Thailand will import US maize only when domestic animal feed supplies are insufficient, countering fears of market saturation.
Thailand faces a substantial shortfall in animal feed, producing 5 million tons against a demand of 9 million tons, necessitating imports to bridge the gap.
Imports from neighboring countries have declined due to stricter haze-control measures, further intensifying the domestic supply shortage.
Safeguards are established to protect local producers, limiting maize imports to no more than one-third of the domestic supply.

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.