Former MP facing murder charge to face fine for smoking

13 Sept 14:05 Key points summarised by AI

Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Riewraeng faces a 5,000 baht fine for smoking inside a police station, violating public health laws.
Rattanathibet police station will also incur a 3,000 baht fine for failing to intervene and prevent the former MP from smoking in a public building.
The smoking incident occurred while Chalong was in custody following the fatal shooting of mayor Thongchai Yenprasert.
A police commissioner admitted allowing Chalong to smoke to relieve stress, despite the clear legal violation.
Separately, Chalong has been denied bail and detained in provincial prison pending the conclusion of the murder investigation.

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.