Commerce Ministry seeks new markets for Thai shrimp after Malaysia ban

13 Sept 12:44 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysia abruptly banned imports of five Thai shrimp species from June 1, citing safety concerns, catching Thai officials by surprise.
Thai shrimp farmers and officials suspect the ban is retaliation for Thailand's recent tightening of sea bass screening from Malaysia due to chemical and antibiotic residues.
The Commerce Ministry plans to raise the issue at WTO and ASEAN forums, while the Agriculture Ministry will hold an urgent meeting to address the problem.
To mitigate the loss of 300-400 tonnes of monthly shrimp exports to Malaysia, the Commerce Ministry is actively securing new markets in countries like China, Japan, and the United States.

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.