Minister orders closure of Ming Dih factory after fresh blaze

13 Sept 06:23 Key points summarised by AI

Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa ordered the permanent closure and license revocation for Ming Dih Chemical Co. Ltd. after a new fire broke out at its Samut Prakan factory.
The recent blaze, at a facility derelict since a catastrophic 2021 explosion, was attributed to sparks from trespassers scavenging scrap metal igniting residual chemical waste.
The minister emphasized strict legal enforcement, with the formal closure revoking the factory's operating license due to the operator's ongoing failure to implement proper security and comply with safety rectifications.

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.