Cambodian PM denies using Thai quota to study at West Point

10 Sept 07:30 Key points summarised by AI

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet vehemently denies viral claims that he attended the US Military Academy at West Point through a quota allocated to the Thai military.
He clarified that the United States independently allocates scholarships and cadet positions to foreign countries, and he was nominated by Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence with endorsement from the US Embassy in Cambodia.
Hun Manet stressed his West Point degree clearly identifies him as a Cambodian cadet and challenged anyone to verify his claims directly with Thai or US authorities.
A Thai official, Wanwichit Boonprong, counter-claimed that then-Thai Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh endorsed Hun Manet under Thailand's quota, citing Cambodia's post-war situation and lack of established military academies in 1995.

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.