Thailand, New Zealand strengthen strategic partnership

14 Sept 09:45 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand and New Zealand formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership' by signing a joint declaration, commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations.
The partnership outlines a 'Joint Plan of Action 2026–2030' focusing on four key pillars: enhancing political and security cooperation, boosting economic and trade ties with an ambitious target to triple trade by 2045, strengthening education and cultural exchanges, and collaborating on regional and multilateral issues.
Key outcomes include New Zealand's endorsement of Thailand's OECD membership bid, the signing of four cooperation documents, and Thai Airways' plan to resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland by March 2027 to boost tourism and trade.

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.