Sixteen years old and studying 13 hours a day, high school pupil Worapot doesn't have time to waste meeting a military-led government's idea of what makes a good Thai.
The generals who led a coup in May have prioritized school reforms to inculcate a strong sense of national identity — or Thainess — in a country whose traditional values hinge on unquestioning respect for the monarchy, religion and elders.
For Worapot, the son of junior civil servants who together earn $1,800 a month, a more practical goal would be creating an education system that commands respect in the job market.
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