Thai boxing legend Buakaw to front Muay Thai push into Europe
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Thai boxing legend Buakaw to front Muay Thai push into Europe
13 Sept 11:56Key points summarised by AI
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) enlisted legendary Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek to spearhead a cultural and trade initiative in Europe.
Commercial attaché offices, particularly in Frankfurt, organized successful Muay Thai Festivals across Germany and Switzerland, blending sports diplomacy with trade promotion.
These events showcased Muay Thai-themed apparel, Thai cuisine, and certified restaurants, with Buakaw demonstrating skills to engage attendees and promote Thai culture.
The initiative generated significant online engagement, and DITP plans further online business matching sessions to boost exports of boxing gear and related merchandise.
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.