Land bridge project is definitely shelved - Finance Minister

11 Sept 16:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's one-trillion baht land bridge project, designed to connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, has been definitively shelved.
A 90-day feasibility study concluded the mega-project lacked economic viability, carried high financial risks, and posed significant environmental threats.
Key concerns included global trade conflicts impacting profitability, a low likelihood of shipping lines diverting from the Strait of Malacca, and strong opposition from local communities and stakeholders over ecological impacts.
Instead, an alternative 'Missing Link' project is proposed, focusing on upgrading the existing Ranong deep-sea port and constructing a new rail link to the east coast and a main line towards China.

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.