Taxpayers get a raw deal
Taxpayers get a raw dealAlthough the government believes that a cut in the employees' contribution to the Social Security Fund (SSF) from 3% to 0.5% is a valuable assistance measure to this vast group of people who are excluded from the latest relief scheme, the measure is still unsubstantiated and unfair. Those employees are regular taxpayers who contribute to state coffers every year but it seems that they are being ignored by the government. Such an instruction is baffling given that government officials and state employees still enjoy full salary payments. What the government should do is give fair treatment to all affected groups of people, including affected state and state enterprise employees. As such, it should start paying due attention to the 11 million people who are honest taxpayers as well as a large number of SMEs that cannot access the government's relief schemes.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 24, 2021 23:37 UTC
Haze fight needs new approach, say experts | Bangkok Post: learning
Similar conditions were reported in Nakhon Ratchasima, where micro-dust levels have exceeded the safe level for five days straight. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Thailand is heading in the wrong direction with its approach to solving PM2.5 microdust and other air pollution problems as measures are not systematic or year-round, according to academics. Sirima Panyametheekul, a member of the Thailand Air Quality Management (TAQM) coalition of pollution experts, said the weather is a factor and with lower temperatures and an absence of wind, the air pollution problems would get worse. In a further change aimed at battling air pollution, vehicle inspections would now be carried out on the spot to avoid unnecessary trips into the DLT workshop in the city. The results of these evaluations could see registration renewal applications refused, depending on the state of the vehicles, according to Mr Chirute.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 24, 2021 23:37 UTC
INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY ASSESSMENT
INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY ASSESSMENTCorruption, favouritism and nepotism, running deep within Thailand’s public administration and public service systems,is compromising the viability of legal-rational authority and causing failure in the maintenance of integrity and transparency, resulting in a shortfall of good governance on a national scale. Following international practice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has formulated the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) in the hope of creating a safeguard against corruption in government agencies as a whole, rather than having to deal with corruption on an individual/smaller scale. That is to say, ITA is not just an assessment, but an instrument by which each agency can strengthen its own operational integrity, better display transparency, and more efficiently serve the public. Without the corruption-breeding loopholes engendering inefficiency and unfairness of Thai public administration and narrowing of Thai public services, the country would stand a better chance of dodging corruption damage. Through a collaboration between Office of the NACC and the Faculty of Economics at Chulalongkorn University, ITA uses a holistic and comprehensive approach to enable multi-faceted data collecting, an essential resource when looking to enhance integrity and transparency.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 24, 2021 21:45 UTC
From the doghouse to the White House
It wasn't long before "Bo" a Portuguese water dog was romping around on the White House lawns in his capacity as "First Dog". So after four dog-less years, for many Americans it will be refreshing to see a couple of hounds running around the White House discovering all sorts of exciting new snifferies. There have been plenty of famous White House dogs, including Warren G Harding's impressive Airedale called "Laddie" which even had its own chair in cabinet meetings. Mr Sanders later told CBS: "In Vermont we know something about the cold. Beached in FloridaSomeone who is perhaps a trifle more fashion conscious than Mr Sanders is former first lady Melania Trump who experienced a swift wardrobe change following her farewell to the White House.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 23, 2021 22:18 UTC
Army must be accountable
Army must be accountableThe Royal Thai Army (RTA), one of the country's most powerful institutions, last week marked Thai Armed Forces Day, a day when it showcased its strength and solidarity. In fact, the carnage by Jakrapanth escalated the calls for reform in the RTA which the former army commander pledged to comply with. In addition, activist lawyers alleged there has been the illegal allocation of over 70,000 rai of forest land in Nakhon Ratchasima for a real estate project involving senior army officers. Army spokesman Maj Gen Santipong Thampiya did not disclose the details of the RTA's investigation into the case. Why should the public trust a force of armed men who can barely be transparent in their affairs?
Source:Bangkok Post
January 23, 2021 22:07 UTC
TCG's merchant of risks
— Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, President, Thai Credit Guarantee corporationLabelling himself both an undertaker and merchant of risks, Rak Vorrakitpokatorn has a mission to help comatose small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) survive profound hardships during this major economic crisis. But the new outbreak has shifted their attitude, as help from the TCG for loan guarantees is seen as a do-or-die situation. For instance, if an SME receives a loan worth 10 million baht, the TCG will insure 7 million. The lowest credit score issued by TCG is 65, in contrast with a minimum of 70 issued by banks. Normally loans provided to SMEs, filtered through banks' loan approval process, will turn into non-performing loans (NPLs) at around 5-6%.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 23:55 UTC
Fares need govt oversight
Fares need govt oversightThe government, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and skytrain operator must settle the new fares of the Green Line service before Feb 16 to protect commuters. Last year, the BMA and the ministry were ordered to reach agreement on the Green Line ceiling rate. Over the past few years, commuters have complained loudly about overpriced train fares, but no state agencies have had the guts to address the issue. The issue of BTS Green Line fares emerged in November last year after the government turned down the BMA's request to renew the concession of the BTS Group. But the state needs to tackle the issue of overpricing as it is well-known that the country's train fares are high compared to the cost of living.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 23:47 UTC
Online learning prompts error message
Online learning prompts error messageIn this Jan 5 photo, a student and his mother drop by at his school in Samut Prakan to pick up educational material to study at home after the government ordered school closures in response to a new wave of Covid-19 infections. Even so, partial restrictions ordered by the government have caused hardship to ordinary people's lives as well as most small businesses. What the pandemic has revealed is that our system was unprepared to offer online learning on many fronts. But the most severe problem is inadequate levels of digital literacy among students, parents and even teachers and school administrators. In many cases, online learning means self-learning, not virtual learning.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 23:47 UTC
A brave throw of the dice
The ghost of strategist pastThe Pheu Thai Party's recent press conference on its preparations for the next election struck political observers as odd. The concept of "breaking a 1,000-baht note into smaller denominations" involves the role of smaller parties serving as branches that support Pheu Thai in future elections. The outspoken politician also took the opportunity to criticise some former Pheu Thai members for causing confusion by continuing to pursue close ties with existing members. "Those who turn their backs on Pheu Thai have nothing further to do with the party. "On the other hand, those [who chose to leave] should not get so involved with remaining Pheu Thai members.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 23:26 UTC
‘King’s Bangkok’ shares 10 tips to make the world-class online learning experience
‘King’s Bangkok’ shares 10 tips to make the world-class online learning experience‘King’s Bangkok’ shares 10 tips to make the world-class online learning experience, taking part in raising Thailand’s standard of education to an international level through qualified teachers who are dedicated to their students’ continuous development and their families’ wellbeing. They organise their lessons by applying expertise from the global network of King’s College School: King’s Wimbledon, King’s Hangzhou and King’s Wuxi. BANGKOK – King’s College International School Bangkok (King’s Bangkok) shares some methods and some positive feedback of learning from home, highlighting the concept of having an ‘Inquisitive Mind’. Professor Sakorn Suksriwong, DBA, Chairman of the Executive Committee of King’s College International School Bangkok, said, “King’s Bangkok has always worked closely with King’s Wimbledon, and this time we are lucky to be able to collaborate with another two King’s campuses in China. King’s Bangkok now welcomes applications for boys and girls aged 2–15 (Pre-nursery to Year 10) for the academic year 2021.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 11:02 UTC
Covid-19 spokesman in quarantine | Bangkok Post: learning
CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin starts the daily Covid-19 update at Government House in Bangkok on Friday, and announces he himself has been put at risk of infection, albeit a low risk. (Screenshot from the briefing programme)The government's Covid-19 spokesman has gone into self quarantine, but his initial test was negative. Taweesilp Visanuyothin went straight to Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute after announcing that he was at "low risk" of having been infected. The CCSA spokesman said he had been in contact with the commentator, and was at low risk of infection. He would be tested for Covid-19, and would quarantine himself afterwards, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 10:52 UTC
309 new Covid-19 cases | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The government on Friday reported 309 new Covid-19 cases – 297 local infections and 12 imported - raising the total to 13,104. In the group of 80 new cases, 49 were found in Samut Sakhon province and eight in Bangkok. Active case finding found 212 cases in Samut Sakhon, including 196 migrant workers, and five Myanmar migrants in Bangkok. Samut Sakhon recorded 261 new cases in the past 24 hours and had 5,036 of the 8,302 cases found nationwide since Dec 18. Next week active case finding would be accelerated at factories in Samut Sakhon and adjacent districts in Bangkok, Dr Taweesilp said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 07:07 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: Food for thought | Bangkok Post: learning
Read the following story by Arusa Pisuthipan from the Bangkok Post. To get them back on track towards education, we are highlighting some of the best Netflix documentaries and science programmes that can serve as food for the thought amid unwanted school breaks. Also streaming is Our Planet: Behind The Scenes, which reveals what took place behind the camera during filming and production. The Magic School Bus. The Magic School Bus.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 05:37 UTC
'Dust dome' blamed for haze | Bangkok Post: learning
The haze which has covered Bangkok over the past four to five days wasn't just caused by PM2.5 dust, as the amount of larger PM10 pollutants and greenhouse gases has also soared. The minister said he has asked provincial governors to ask farmers in their area to avoid burning farm waste. Schools will be allowed to delay their reopening if the haze problem in their area continues to deteriorate, he added. The drop in air quality across Bangkok over the past week is caused by an urban "dust dome" over the city. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Click "play" to listen to 'Dust dome' blamed for haze and "Download" to keep this file for educational purpose.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 22, 2021 02:37 UTC
13 kinds of business to reopen in Bangkok | Bangkok Post: learning
This traditional Thai massage parlour on Khao San Road was closed on Thursday, but is among 13 kinds of premises allowed to reopen in the capital on Friday. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has approved the reopening of 13 kinds of premises, including game arcades and shops, from Friday. BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang said its communicable disease control committee headed by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang made the decision on Thursday after discussions with doctors and lecturers in medicine. Mr Pongsakorn said the BMA took a month to control Covid-19. The capital was now logging about 10 new cases a day, down from about 50 at the end of last year and early this month.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 21, 2021 10:52 UTC