Two million failed welfare applicants will receive state benefits

13 Sept 11:46 Key points summarised by AI

Approximately two million applicants for Thailand's state welfare card program were initially disqualified due to owning vehicles older than specified age limits.
The Land Transport Department has now waived the condition regarding the age of cars (over 20 years) and motorcycles (over 15 years), making these previously failed applicants eligible.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed the establishment of one-stop service centers in all districts to process appeals, addressing the 200,000 applicants who had already challenged their disqualification.
State welfare card holders are entitled to a 300-baht monthly payment, an 80-baht cooking gas payment for three months, and 750 baht per month for travel expenses, and are exempt from the 'Thai Chuay Thai Plus' program.

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.