System at fault
Re: "Thai student moves maths problem closer to finish line" (BP, May 15).
The news report on the achievement of Tanupat Trakulthongchai is inspiring. It shows Thai students are as bright as any others, held back only by the appallingly poor standard of education.
My own experience conducting research writing workshops for the Office of the Civil Service Commission's King's Scholarship recipients confirms Thais are as good as anyone else.
Two students who still stand out in my memory were twins preparing to undertake postgraduate studies in pure mathematics at an Ivy League university. The other Thai students in those groups were similarly brilliant, hardworking young people in their respective fields, not only in STEM subjects but also across the humanities.
More disappointing, by contrast, were some online comments on the article, complaining about the perceived uselessness of such academic work by brilliant scholars. Those commentators simply illustrate their lack of knowledge that imaginary numbers, constructed using the square root of -1, evolved from being the playthings of 16th-century Italian mathematicians into essential components of quantum physics that underpin much of our modern technology.
Similarly, prime numbers long fascinated mathematicians before becoming the backbone of the encryption systems that now protect our data in the digital world.
The fact that pure research in any field does not immediately enable businesses to profit from it is no indication of how important such "useless" research may eventually prove to be.
Well done, Tanupat. Your story deserves to appear on every front page in Thailand.
Time to catch up
Re: "Rain delays Sinner's bid to reach Italian Open final", (Sport, May 17).
As I write this letter, the clock tells it is 10.46pm on May 16. The on-screen menu for channel 670-Tennis indicates we should be watching the WTA Italian Open 2026 #03, whatever that means.
The internet notes the ladies final was scheduled to begin at 10.30pm, Thailand time.
But we are actually seeing multiple replays of WTA tournaments of days gone by interspersed with multiple adverts for True and all its benefits for the viewing public.
Unfortunately, this is quite typical of programming by True, which seems unable to do a simple web search to discover that they have been calling Hondo on SWAT a Lieutenant since the series began, when he is actually a Sergeant.
I will keep hoping that the video feed will eventually catch up with the mentioned programming.
Some curbs needed
Re: "Only half the story", (PostBag, May 17) & "Netherlands tax binge hurts growth and jobs" (Opinion, May 13).
S de Jong's letter addresses the Netherlands' dissatisfaction with their government ignoring the wishes of the people who voted them in.
Looking at the mass protests of mostly middle-aged citizens in London yesterday, it would seem that the problem is widespread in and around Europe.
Integration is fine if it is controlled and does not destroy the culture and laws of the hosting country.
It's good to see the government clamping down on those who are here illegally and abusing Thailand's laws and hospitality.
