Kok River pollution tops agenda as Myanmar president visits: Anutin

14 Sept 02:18 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will prioritize discussions on the severe toxic contamination of the Kok River with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing during his upcoming visit, seeking direct cooperation.
The Kok River, originating in Myanmar and flowing into Thailand, shows elevated levels of arsenic and heavy metals, which Thai and foreign researchers link to upstream gold and rare earth mining operations in Myanmar, often backed by Chinese investors.
Thailand aims for substantive discussions to resolve this critical cross-border environmental issue, alongside other mutual concerns such as agricultural burning and efforts to combat illicit drugs.
This bilateral engagement reflects Thailand's "dual-track approach" to address pressing issues with Myanmar, despite the latter's exclusion from major ASEAN meetings since the 2021 coup.

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.