Thai central bank rules out QE, interest rate hikes due to economic fragility

18 Sept 03:35 Key points summarised by AI

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) will maintain an accommodative monetary policy, ruling out immediate interest rate hikes or quantitative easing (QE) to support a fragile economy burdened by structural issues.
BoT Governor Vitai Ratanakorn highlighted Thailand's weak economy, despite a projected 2.3% GDP growth, noting a K-shaped recovery where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and low-income citizens continue to struggle.
The central bank dismissed QE, explaining that past liquidity injections proved ineffective in Thailand's financial system, with funds failing to stimulate the real economy.
With cost-push inflation easing and headline inflation projected to remain below 2.8%, the current policy rate of 1% is deemed appropriate, allowing the BoT to prioritize economic support over aggressive stimulation.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.