A recent Credit Suisse report named Thailand the most unequal country in the world, with just one percent of the population owning 66.9 percent of the nation’s wealth. The findings prompted We Fair Network, social justice advocacy group made up of 13 organisations to call for serious reforms of Thailand’s budget and welfare system.The group presented its proposal for the reform of the country’s welfare system based on seven aspects to key political figures at a forum earlier this week.

Even with sketchy financial information, research academics agree that China’s island building in the Spratly archipelago is a multi-billion-dollar undertaking. Some estimates note that building up Fiery Cross island alone, with its three-kilometre runway and military facilities including missile and radar installations, have cost around US$11 billion. But this is the pointed-end of the spear, and it is only one part of China’s global expansion plans.What about their soft power initiatives?

Cambodian Senate president Say Chhum recently encouraged the country’s youth to study hard in order to become future leaders. He made the comment during the opening ceremony of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia congress at a hotel in Phnom Penh.Chhum’s call certainly makes sense if one were to consider how young the Cambodian population is.

The research arm of Switzerland-based business school International Institute for Management Development (IMD) recently conducted a survey on the talent competitiveness of 66 countries around the world. While countries like Malaysia and Indonesia managed to move up in the IMD World Competitiveness’ World Talent Ranking 2018, several countries in Asia also dropped a few places.

Young people represent the fundamental drivers of economic and social growth and nowhere is this more visible than in Southeast Asia. In a region of more than 630 million people, 60 percent are below the age of 30.However, in an ever-changing global environment, it is vital for the next generation to be prepared for challenges that may or may not be so apparent now.

Following the now viral anti-junta rap song "What My Country's Got" (Pratheet Go Mee) by hip-hop collective Rap Against Dictatorship (RAD), another rap song had surfaced earlier this month. This latest song is by a 17-year-old rapper Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, better known as Elevenfinger.Lyrics to Elevenfinger’s song “Equality” shines a light on Thai politics and the country’s poor education system. Some of the lyrics include “A country killing the people...

Amidst recent calls to increase the marriageable age from 16 to 18, the government in Malaysia has expressed its plans to amend two laws. The announcement followed the march to Parliament involving activists, primary and secondary school students and member of the public to hand over of petition for the same objective.

The wealth of nations is often measured by its physical, natural and institutional resources. Seldom, if ever, are their human capital considered as economic resources. When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or World Bank offer financial aid, they usually impose conditions to limit public spending on health and education.That approach may be revised in future as the World Bank has recognised the value of human capital to a nation’s economic future.

Just this Tuesday, Thailand’s cabinet approved the transfer of three senior head officials from the country’s Ministry of Education amid a probe into alleged malfeasance in relation to the construction of the Songkhla Lake Aquaculture Research Centre, an aquarium and marine research centre in the southern province of Songkhla. This is the latest step in a high-profile corruption probe that the ministry is conducting.

Singapore’s Education Minister Ong Ye Kung recently revealed that the government there intends to bring in foreign talent in areas critical to Industry 4.0. Ong said that meanwhile, the country will work on rebalancing its education system to meet future demand.