#SchoolReform

A growing body of global and local research is confirming what many may suspect: prolonged sitting at desks—whether at home, the office, or in school classrooms—can take a significant toll on both mind and body. Evidence suggests that the simple act of standing and moving for just five to ten minutes each hour can profoundly help cognition, health, and even academic performance, sounding an urgent call for Thai schools and workplaces to rethink their predominantly sedentary environments (Psychology Today).

Parents in San Francisco have voiced growing concerns following the school district’s decision to require all ninth-grade students to take a two-semester ethnic studies class, replacing what was previously an elective with a mandatory, yearlong course. The move by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), communicated to parents just days before the start of the 2024-25 academic year, has reignited debates on curriculum, ideology, and student choice, with lessons that may resonate in Thailand’s ongoing discussions over educational reforms and culturally responsive teaching CBS News San Francisco.

A major international survey has revealed that nearly half of teachers say the 2024-25 school year has been the most stressful of their careers—surpassing even the tumult of the pandemic era. The findings paint a stark picture of working conditions for educators, and recent research confirms many of these pressures are mirrored among teachers in Thailand, raising urgent questions about the future of the teaching profession and student outcomes locally and globally.

A new wave of research and policy focus in Nepal is spotlighting the transformative power of school education in advancing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights for adolescent girls—a development closely watched by educators and health advocates across Asia, including Thailand. According to a recent article by the Brookings Institution, strengthening girls’ agency through formal education is increasingly recognized as a crucial strategy for enabling young women to exercise their health rights, make informed decisions about their bodies, and break cycles of poverty and discrimination [Brookings].

As the intensity of exam season ramps up in Thailand’s schools, families across the country find themselves searching for ways to support students under mounting pressure. Recent neuroscientific research, as discussed in a widely circulated article by a prominent neuroscientist in The Times, provides fresh insights into how caregivers can help children handle academic stress, with implications that resonate powerfully for Thai households navigating national exams and university entrance tests source.

Before the sun rises over Amherst Regional Middle School in the United States, the gym fills with the thumping sound of basketballs and energetic music. A diverse group of students, some still wiping sleep from their eyes, gather for “Morning Movement and Mentoring,” a pioneering program that combines early-morning exercise with academic support and mentoring. Initiated as a simple way to entice teens to school with a few early hoops, this grassroots project has evolved into a multifaceted, youth-focused initiative now recognized for boosting academic performance and attendance—as well as transforming lives.