Despite junta’s recalcitrance, ASEAN reopens dialogue with Myanmar

12 Sept 08:36 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN, with Thailand coordinating, re-engaged Myanmar's military regime through high-level meetings despite the junta's continued rejection of the Five-Point Consensus and ongoing conflict.
Myanmar's military government demonstrated recalcitrance by rejecting a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and formally opposing ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus, raising skepticism about the dialogue's effectiveness.
ASEAN officials, including the Special Envoy, reiterated their unwavering commitment to the Five-Point Consensus as the core framework for addressing the Myanmar crisis, regardless of the junta's stance.
ASEAN outlined key indicators for progress, including expanding humanitarian access and fostering inclusive dialogue, while critics emphasized that peace talks require trust and a cessation of violence.

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.