#Educationreform

As AI writing tools become more accessible, several US universities are reviving handwritten exams. The return of blue books aims to curb AI-assisted cheating and reshape how students demonstrate understanding. The shift highlights a global question: how should assessments evolve in a digital era, including Thailand?

Recent reporting shows blue-book sales rising at large public universities, with increases exceeding 30% at some campuses and nearly 50% at others. A dramatic rise at UC Berkeley has been noted in the past two years. Educators say these in-class, handwritten essays limit opportunities for AI-generated work. Still, experts caution that blue-book exams are not a complete fix and may not capture all forms of learning. The trend has also benefited paper manufacturers and academic suppliers.

As artificial intelligence continues to surge through everyday life and work, the question of student readiness for a tech-driven future is sparking urgent debate among educators, policymakers, and families alike. New research and policy discussions highlight how building robust computer science (CS) education is now not only desirable, but essential, for preparing Thai students to thrive in the age of AI and stay competitive on the global stage.

The explosion of artificial intelligence applications—from AI-powered language tools and automated learning systems to intelligent robotics and data-driven decision-making—brings profound implications for education. According to the latest commentary published in The Desert Sun (desertsun.com), computer science is foundational for understanding and navigating these changes. Advocates argue that just as learning to drive requires knowing what’s “under the hood,” the arrival of AI technology means every student needs to understand the mechanisms behind these systems—algorithms, data processing, and ethical dimensions included.

As artificial intelligence becomes woven into daily life and work, educators, policymakers, and families are weighing how to prepare Thai students for a tech-driven future. New research and policy discussions stress that robust computer science (CS) education is essential for thriving in the AI era and competing globally.

AI’s rapid spread—from language tools and adaptive learning platforms to robotics and data-informed decision-making—has big implications for classrooms. A major opinion piece from The Desert Sun argues that CS is foundational for navigating these advances. It likens learning CS to understanding what’s under the hood when learning to drive, highlighting the need for students to grasp algorithms, data processing, and ethics behind AI systems.

A provocative idea from the CEO of Duolingo suggests that in an AI-dominated future, traditional schools may mostly serve as supervised childcare rather than primary learning spaces. The concept, discussed on the No Priors podcast and echoed in global coverage, prompts Thai educators, parents, and policymakers to reexamine the evolving roles of schools and teachers in an era of intelligent learning systems.

Proponents argue that AI can deliver highly personalized instruction at scale, potentially surpassing what a single teacher can manage in a class of 30 or more students. The vision describes schools as social environments where childcare is central, while AI platforms handle most academic teaching. Teachers would act more as facilitators and mentors, supporting skills like collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving that machines cannot replicate.

The future of education is being profoundly reshaped by artificial intelligence, with the latest bold prediction coming from the CEO of Duolingo: in an AI-dominated future, traditional schools may remain—but primarily as places for childcare rather than learning. This provocative vision, recently aired on the No Priors podcast and widely reported in international media (businessinsider.com), brings into focus pressing questions for Thai educators, parents, and policymakers about the evolving role of schools and teachers.

A fresh labor-market study challenges the long-held belief that STEM degrees are the sole path to secure jobs. Data from the New York Fed indicate nutrition, construction services, and animal/plant sciences graduates in the United States experienced very low unemployment in 2023. The findings, summarized for a broader audience, prompt Thai students and parents to reconsider how degree choices align with employability in a rapidly changing economy.

In 2023, graduates aged 22 to 27 across diverse fields posted surprisingly low unemployment in nontraditional areas. Nutrition sciences, construction services, and animal or plant sciences reported unemployment rates around 1 percent or lower. Meanwhile, some tech-heavy majors faced higher unemployment, with computer science, chemistry, and physics hovering at or above 6 percent, and computer engineering around 7.5 percent. The contrast underscores a labor market that rewards both technical skill and practical capability in sectors such as health, construction, and life sciences.

A new report has turned expectations about employability on their head, showing that graduates of nutrition, construction services, and animal/plant sciences have the lowest unemployment rates among recent U.S. college graduates—beating even traditional STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields such as chemistry and physics. The findings, released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and published in Entrepreneur on May 16, highlight changing dynamics in the labor market and have important implications for Thai students considering their future studies.

Artificial intelligence is not here to replace radiologists. Instead, AI is driving a new era of efficiency and accuracy in medical imaging. Leading institutions describe AI as a powerful ally that speeds up workflows, sharpens image quality, and helps identify subtle abnormalities that may elude the human eye. This shift is reshaping patient care without sacrificing clinician expertise, as reported by major outlets and reinforced by practice at top hospitals.

Artificial intelligence was once expected to render radiologists obsolete, but emerging research reveals a different story: AI is powering a new era of efficiency in medical imaging, not replacing the specialists at its heart. Far from facing career extinction, radiologists — especially at leading institutions like the Mayo Clinic — are embracing advanced AI tools to deliver faster, more accurate, and more nuanced patient care, according to a detailed report by The New York Times (nytimes.com).

A new wave of scholarship is overturning the simplistic view of English as a “killer language” steamrolling over the world’s linguistic diversity. Recent findings, as highlighted in Laura Spinney’s latest article for Big Think, reveal that while English remains undeniably dominant, its expansion and alleged impact on other languages are far more complex than previously thought. Instead of a binary narrative of destruction and supremacy, researchers now see English as both converging and diverging — simultaneously fueling the birth of new varieties, while occupying a unique and dynamic role in multilingual societies worldwide. These insights are critical for Thai readers, educators, and policymakers grappling with the place of English in a rapidly globalizing region.

A sweeping body of recent research from the United States is sounding the alarm: boys and young men are increasingly struggling, not only in their education but also in their mental health and transitions into adulthood. While girls and young women surge ahead in academic achievement and social maturity, many young males are reporting feelings of being undervalued and adrift. These challenges, documented in a comprehensive analysis published in The New York Times, reflect a significant gender gap with implications that extend far beyond U.S. borders—including Thailand, where similar trends have emerged in recent years (nytimes.com).

A fresh wave of scholarship challenges the idea that English relentlessly erodes linguistic diversity. While English remains dominant, researchers say its influence is more nuanced than a simple battle of loss and supremacy. For Thai readers, educators, and policymakers, this evolving understanding offers a more balanced view of how English fits into multilingual societies and what it means for Thailand’s education and culture.

English rose to its global prominence in the globalization era, becoming a common lingua franca. Critics once labeled it a “killer language” that would drive smaller tongues to extinction. But leading linguists argue the term misleads. English has expanded as a practical tool for international communication, while many indigenous languages continue to thrive in daily life outside Europe. In other words, bilingualism and multilingualism persist, and the “killer language” label reflects a Eurocentric perspective rather than global linguistic realities.

New research from the United States highlights a widening challenge: boys and young men are increasingly falling behind in education, mental health, and transitions into adulthood. While girls advance in academic achievement and social development, many boys feel undervalued and adrift. The findings, interpreted as part of a global trend, carry meaningful implications for Thailand’s classrooms, universities, and workplaces as the country pursues inclusive growth and a resilient economy.

Data from the United States show that the education gap often begins in kindergarten, where boys lag in readiness and behavior. The gap persists through schooling, with girls outperforming boys in reading and earning higher grades overall. By high school, fewer boys graduate on time compared with girls. Experts note that even when boys do well in math, the overall classroom environment has become more conducive to female success. A leading voice in this field says the system could be more boy-friendly to support positive learning outcomes.

A new study from the Boke District in Eastern Ethiopia highlights a persistent gap in reproductive health knowledge among high school students. The findings underscore how crucial reliable, age-appropriate guidance is for adolescents in a world of increasing digital information and evolving social norms. For Thai educators and policymakers, the Ethiopian experience offers both a warning and a blueprint for strengthening adolescent health education at home and in schools.

According to researchers, only a minority of high school students could accurately answer questions about reproductive health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. The study identifies factors behind low health literacy, including gender disparities, limited parental education, scarce youth-friendly health services, and cultural beliefs that discourage open conversations about sexuality. Students with trusted information sources—whether at school or within families—demonstrated higher understanding and confidence on these topics.

A wave of recent studies is reshaping how we think about ADHD. Researchers question whether ADHD is a fixed, lifetime brain disorder and whether the traditional medical model serves everyone it intends to help. With rising global diagnosis rates and more stimulant prescriptions, including in Thailand, the conversation matters for clinicians, families, and students alike.

ADHD has long been described as a chronic neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that disrupt daily life. For decades, stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamine have been widely used, grounded in the belief that they correct a biological imbalance. Yet prominent voices in medicine warn that current science does not fully align with real-world experiences of patients, families, and classrooms in Thailand and beyond.

A landmark study from the University of Houston has brought new clarity to an enduring educational challenge: while gender stereotypes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are pervasive, students’ views are far more nuanced than previously thought. Released this week and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research found that girls and boys continue to assign masculine stereotypes to certain STEM fields—particularly engineering and computer science—while displaying more gender-neutral or even female-favoring attitudes toward math and biological sciences. The findings have important implications for educational practices and gender equity efforts in Thailand, where encouraging girls to pursue all STEM fields remains an ongoing policy goal.

A new study from the University of Houston sheds light on a persistent issue: gender stereotypes in STEM are real, but attitudes vary by field. The research shows that students often view engineering and computer science as male domains, while math and biology are seen as more gender-neutral or even female-favoring. The findings carry important implications for Thailand, where policies aim to expand girls’ participation across all STEM areas.

This matters for Thai readers because the country has long promoted STEM as a path to individual success and national growth. Thailand’s 4.0 initiative emphasizes gender equity in STEM as part of moving toward a value-based, innovation-driven economy. Yet women remain underrepresented in tech and engineering, mirroring global trends. The study suggests that interventions should treat STEM not as a single block but as distinct fields with different stereotype dynamics.

As parents in Thailand prepare their children for adulthood, new international research highlights a crucial question: Beyond academic exams, what life skills should an 18-year-old truly possess to thrive independently? This issue has gained fresh urgency with the publication of a recent essay in The Globe and Mail, inspired by psychologist Martin Seligman’s findings on youth development and a practical checklist developed by a former Stanford University dean. The message is clear: Modern youth, whether in Canada or Thailand, risk missing key lessons in self-sufficiency if parents continue to do everything for them.

A landmark bill that would allow North Carolina high school students to substitute advanced mathematics with computer science for graduation and university admissions requirements has cleared a major legislative hurdle, sparking debate about the future direction of education in the digital age. House Bill 415, which passed the North Carolina House Education committee on Tuesday, is now moving on to the House Rules committee, bringing the state a step closer to overhauling its math curriculum requirements and aligning education with the needs of a modern workforce (WRAL).

A landmark bill in North Carolina moves to allow high school students to substitute advanced mathematics with computer science for graduation and college admissions. House Bill 415 cleared the state House Education committee and heads to the House Rules committee, signaling a potential overhaul of math requirements to reflect a digital economy. The debate underscores a broader global discussion on which skills best prepare students for modern work, including the Thai context where digital literacy is increasingly prioritized.

Thai parents often emphasize exams, yet international researchers argue that practical life skills are crucial for independent adulthood. A recent essay in The Globe and Mail, inspired by psychologist Martin Seligman’s youth-development work and a practical checklist from a former Stanford dean, highlights 11 core abilities that all young people should master before leaving home. The message is universal: without intentional practice, today’s teens risk remaining dependent as they face a rapidly evolving world.

Open, honest conversations between mothers and their teenage daughters about masturbation can improve emotional well-being and physical health. Leading psychologists, sex education experts, and parents are advocating a shift in how sexuality is discussed—moving beyond basic topics like consent and contraception to include self-exploration as a normal part of adolescence. This perspective is relevant for Thai families and resonates with global research on healthy development.

In many Thai households, sexuality remains a sensitive topic. Parents often frame sex discussions around risk prevention—pregnancy and infections—and shy away from self-pleasure. A 2020 study in the Journal of Sex Research found that masturbation ranked only 12th among topics discussed with daughters, well behind pregnancy, abstinence, and sexually transmitted infections. This pattern mirrors experiences in many cultures, where female self-pleasure is rarely addressed in home or school settings.

In a world where sexuality is often clouded by stigma and misinformation, leading psychologists, sex education experts, and parents are urging a generational shift: mothers must have open, honest conversations with their teenage daughters about masturbation and self-exploration, not just about more mainstream issues like consent, contraception, or relationships. Recent discussions, including a widely shared article from the UK and mounting research in sexual health, highlight the crucial importance of normalizing this dialogue — for both emotional well-being and physical health — here in Thailand and globally.

A new QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 places the National University of Singapore (NUS) at the forefront of Asia for computer science, ranking 8th globally. The results underscore Asia’s growing leadership in technology education and signal ongoing shifts in the regional STEM landscape that matter for Thailand’s students, educators, and policymakers.

In Asia, NUS leads the pack, with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ranking globally around the mid-teens. Chinese institutions like Tsinghua University and Peking University also rank highly, reflecting strong national investments in engineering and information science. The ranking framework considers research impact, employer and academic reputation, sustainability, learning experience, and international collaboration, rewarding universities with deep industry ties and high-impact research.