Sihasak heads to Malaysia this Sunday as southern violence continues

9 Sept 21:16 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will visit Malaysia to address ongoing unrest in Thailand's southern provinces.
Discussions will focus on enhancing security cooperation, including border fence construction and tackling cross-border insurgent activities.
Malaysia expresses a strong desire for increased border security and development, asserting that security is a prerequisite for progress.
Sihasak emphasizes the critical need for improved intelligence sharing and bilateral coordination to prevent further escalation, especially with youth involvement.
The visit follows continued violence, notably the recent fatal shooting of a village headman's assistant in Narathiwat.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 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.