Family, friends and fans gather for final farewell to Ray MacDonald

12 Sept 04:08 Key points summarised by AI

Family, friends, and prominent entertainment figures gathered at Yang Phra Aram Luang Temple in Bangkok to pay their final respects to beloved actor and travel host Ray MacDonald.
His two young sons, Mika and Maxwell, entered novice monkhood to dedicate spiritual merit, following Ray's passing on August 19 at age 49 due to severe coronary artery disease.

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.