AGP Executive Report

Refugee Access: South Korea’s first university admissions program for refugees offers a new path to higher education, but high tuition and financial pressures remain major barriers. Special Education: Hertfordshire approved more than £7 million for specialist provision, adding 88 places in mainstream schools and 40 at a satellite site. University Funding: Twenty-six public universities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province face a combined 5.6 billion-rupee deficit, putting nearly 200,000 students at risk as officials seek federal support. Primary Schools: The World Bank approved $300 million to improve primary education in Bangladesh. Education in Crisis: The UN says more than half of children in Afghanistan are deprived of formal education, with girls’ access a particular concern. Skills and Training: Scotland’s tertiary education minister has pledged a major overhaul of college skills training, with the Scottish Funding Council set to take responsibility for all apprenticeships from April 2027.

Curriculum Reform: England plans to stop schools teaching GCSE content before Year 10, easing pressure on younger pupils and making room for broader skills as officials seek to curb rising absence. Access Crisis: More than half of children in Afghanistan are reportedly deprived of formal education, with UN officials urging urgent support for girls and other excluded pupils. Primary Education: The World Bank approved $300 million for Bangladesh to improve pre-primary and primary schooling. Skills and Jobs: Nigeria is expanding vocational training, with 75 Lagos trainees learning beauty and cosmetology skills through a government program backed by the World Bank. School Disruption: French education unions have called a new strike for Nov. 10, following widespread disruption at higher-education institutions. AI and Learning: Kenyan school heads are meeting to consider how AI and other changes should reshape teaching, school leadership and students’ future skills.

Child Safety: Australia’s education minister says he cannot assure parents that childcare centres are safe, citing “horrific evidence” of children being unprotected. The government is tightening safeguards, though cameras alone cannot prevent abuse. School Exclusion: A report ranks Bury among England’s worst areas for secondary-school suspensions and exclusions, with vulnerable pupils particularly affected; a new initiative aims to improve attendance and belonging. Higher Education Access: Odisha says its free education scheme helped lift regular undergraduate enrolment by 14,758 to nearly 179,000 students this year. Primary Education Funding: The World Bank approved $300 million for Bangladesh to improve primary education. Curriculum Politics: Texas Democrats’ gains bring the State Board of Education to a 7–7 split, potentially reopening debate over Bible-linked reading lists and social studies materials adopted under a Republican supermajority. AI and Learning: Medical educators are weighing what future doctors should learn as AI takes on more diagnostic and prescribing tasks, with experts questioning how to preserve human judgment and patient care.

School Safety: The Philippines’ education secretary urged tech and social media companies to strengthen age checks and remove content promoting violence, after three fatal school shootings in three months. Global Learning: The World Bank approved $300 million to improve pre-primary and primary learning in Bangladesh, where about half of 10-year-olds cannot understand a simple text. Teacher Action: French education and research unions called a November 10 strike over planned job cuts, frozen pay and a shortage of university places. Education Access: Malaysia plans to expand its astronomy programme to include more people with disabilities and underserved communities. Higher Education: Indonesia and the EU are deepening university ties, with European countries providing Indonesian students more than 1,000 scholarships annually. Nigeria: The government canceled 2026 admissions to unauthorized National Teachers’ Institute degree and NCE programmes, warning students not to apply or pay fees. School Costs: An Australian charity says 53% of families it supports struggled to afford school essentials this year as living costs rise.

U.S. School Politics: Election results could reshape public education: Texas Democrats are poised to take control of the State Board of Education, while Michigan Democrats retained their board majority with literacy and student outcomes among their priorities. New Mexico Ruling: A judge ordered the state to strengthen its plan for Native, disabled, English-learning and low-income students, citing gaps in teacher training, class sizes and student services. Afghanistan Crisis: A UNESCO-UNICEF report says 53% of primary-school-age children are outside formal education and more than 2.6 million girls have been barred from secondary school, threatening both livelihoods and the country’s economic future. Teacher Shortages: Detroit schools and Michigan State University have launched a tuition-funded master’s program to prepare more special education teachers, with 22 educators enrolled. Reform Plans: Pakistan has set a 60-day deadline to develop proposals for an autonomous education authority in Islamabad, while a newly appointed education minister in the Bangsamoro region pledged to improve learning and reach disadvantaged children. International Ties: Armenia and Cyprus signed an agreement to expand cooperation in education, sports and youth, including exchanges and joint programs.

TVET Partnerships: Malaysia and Türkiye plan to deepen technical and vocational training ties across 270 MARA institutions, with instructor training and student exchanges also on the agenda. Cross-Border Higher Education: Malaysia’s qualifications agency and Germany’s FIBAA agreed on mutual recognition, opening the way for more joint degrees, research and student exchanges. Education Reform: Liberia’s ministry is reviewing progress and funding priorities to shape its 2027–29 education plan, with a focus on foundational learning, teachers and rural inequality. Education in Crisis: More than half of Afghanistan’s primary-school-age children remain out of school, while donors have pledged $400 million to support education in emergencies. Public Funding: Canadian university leaders warn the federal budget offers no new help with student costs or funding gaps as tuition rises and programs and jobs are cut.

Education in Emergencies: Governments and partners pledged $405.8 million to Education Cannot Wait, bringing its campaign to 90% of a $600 million target as aid cuts deepen. In Afghanistan, more than half of primary-school-age children remain out of school, with girls facing continued exclusion. AI in Classrooms: A Bulgarian study found 94.7% of pupils use AI, but only 6.5% learned how to use it at school; a Sofia conference will examine how schools can teach responsible use. Skills and Funding: The EU unveiled a package to address declining basic skills and teacher shortages, while Moldova plans 13.5 billion lei in education investment over five years, including upgrades to schools and vocational institutions. School Funding Protests: Students and teachers rallied in Greece, and a nationwide strike disrupted schools in France amid calls for better pay and more education funding.

Inclusive Access: Qatar has launched its first education voucher policy for private schools and kindergartens, with support linked to students’ needs and particular attention to children with disabilities. In Guyana, a new $37 million special-needs school in Mabaruma brings services closer to families and includes accessible transport. EU Schools: The European Commission’s new education package targets falling basic skills, teacher shortages and safe AI use; its analysis found about one in three 15-year-olds underachieves in maths or reading. Education in Crises: Donors pledged more than $400 million for children’s education in emergencies, bringing commitments to $541.6 million toward a $600 million target for 2027–30, despite major aid cuts elsewhere. Student Protests: Ontario post-secondary students are staging walkouts over changes to student aid, tuition increases and concerns about the autonomy of colleges and universities.

Access and Equity: UNICEF and UNESCO say 53% of Afghanistan’s primary-school-age children are out of formal education, renewing calls to restore girls’ access to schooling. Nigeria says it will work to enroll 5.5 million out-of-school nomadic children. School Reform: Australia is planning a national overhaul covering screen time and AI, primary maths, antisemitism lessons and a new commission to coordinate curriculum, testing and teacher standards. Conflict: Reports say Israeli attacks in Gaza killed students and education workers, underscoring the risks facing schools and learners. Funding: Colorado voters approved a measure directing $500 million to schools; New Mexico has also joined a federal scholarship tax-credit program, prompting debate over its effects on public education. Politics and Credentials: Indonesian parties are weighing a parliamentary inquiry into Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s high-school credentials after court rulings found they did not meet domestic requirements for vice-presidential candidates.

AI and Schools: One in three educators surveyed said they did not know whether their school had a policy for AI-generated fake images, which can target students and teachers. Afghanistan: The UN says schools are struggling to meet rising demand amid population growth and returning families; more than 2.6 million girls have been barred from education beyond sixth grade. Conflict and Education: Palestinian officials report that Israeli attacks in Gaza killed 14 students and eight education workers in October. Access in Nigeria: The government says it aims to enrol 5.5 million out-of-school children from nomadic communities, including pastoralist, fishing and farming families. Education Reform: Nigeria’s Academy of Education is urging a policy review, stronger teacher training and wider access to classroom technology. Skills and Funding: Ghana’s Eduwatch is calling for at least 6% of the 2027 education budget to go to pre-tertiary technical and vocational training. International Exchange: A Malaysian primary school will partner with an Australian school for joint projects, virtual exchanges and teacher visits.

AI in Schools: Google says its revised AI policy gives schools more control, after reports that access to Gemini and some Search features for K–12 students could be restricted sparked criticism. Conflict and Learning: At least 14 students and eight education workers were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza during October, according to a Palestinian ministry report. Climate and Access: A worsening water shortage is forcing schools across Papua New Guinea’s Manus province to close about three weeks early. Student Protests: French students have blockaded schools and universities to press the government over education reforms. Digital Higher Education: Malawi’s research and education network has connected 85,965 students, academics and researchers—far above its original 15,000-person target. Disability Support: Families in England say unresolved school transport problems are leaving children with special educational needs stranded and putting heavy pressure on caregivers.

AI in Schools: Google says K–12 schools that disable its AI features will also lose access to Search, prompting concerns about the choice facing administrators. An opinion piece from Iraq argues schools need foundational reforms before AI can help. Student Protests: Students blockaded schools and universities across France, demanding repairs, smaller classes and more university places as unions prepared a nationwide strike. Curaçao Education: The government is pushing stronger links between schools and employers, while new research finds Caribbean resistance to slavery remains underrepresented in Dutch textbooks. Higher Education: The Philippines remains Asia’s 13th most represented university system in the QS rankings, but 24 institutions fell in rank and only three improved. Gaza: Reports say Israeli attacks killed students and education workers, while the siege has disrupted learning for thousands of Palestinian students.

Heat Disruption: About 55,000 public-school students in Tacloban City, Philippines, will switch to distance learning for two days as forecast temperatures reach a dangerous 40°C heat index. Digital Classrooms: Apple says it will supply 170,000 MacBooks to teachers and staff at 16,400 public schools across the Philippines, its largest education deal for Mac. School Repairs: Malaysia’s education ministry opened applications for school maintenance projects, backed by a doubled RM2 billion allocation that prioritizes urgent damage and safety risks. Regional Reform: South Korea selected 43 regions for a five-year education initiative, with funding to address shrinking school populations and strengthen links with universities and local industries. Youth Protections: In South Korea, participation in government-run labor-rights classes plunged nearly 95% from 2023 to 2025 after budget cuts ended in-person sessions.

Higher Education: A UNESCO conference opened in Doha to address cooperation among Arab universities, AI and keeping education available in conflict zones. Malaysia and Finland are also exploring joint research and university partnerships focused on innovation and AI. Student Well-being: In Liberia, an education advocate called for national action on school mental-health support, warning that trauma, anxiety and ADHD can be mistaken for misbehaviour and punished. Youth Protests: Tens of thousands took to the streets in Germany over education funding and living costs, amid wider youth protests and school disruptions in France. Education Across Borders: More than 107,000 students in Ukraine are learning Polish across 577 institutions, up 16% from 2021–22; more than 227,000 Ukrainian students are enrolled in Polish schools.

Bangladesh’s Education Strain: HSC results hit a 22-year low, while more than 800,000 higher-education seats may go vacant, renewing calls to rethink teaching, assessment and university capacity. Skills and Jobs: Bangladesh and China agreed to modernize eight technical institutions, establish a joint technical university and expand job-focused training amid graduate unemployment. Student Data Security: A PowerSchool breach exposed 15,666 records at three Seoul international schools, including health and contact details; all three still use the system. Education Protests: Young people in Germany joined demonstrations over education budget cuts, living costs and compulsory military service. Higher Education: Doha is hosting a UNESCO forum on higher education in Arab states. Schools in Gaza: Palestinian officials say 1,100 teachers and academics have been killed since the war began, deepening the toll on the education system.

Youth and Funding: Tens of thousands protested across Germany over living costs and education funding. Education Minister Karin Prien condemned the violence and pledged talks, saying education must be a national priority. Skills and Higher Education: Malaysia’s higher education minister urged universities to involve industry in curriculum design as technology reshapes work. Doha will host a UNESCO conference on Arab higher education, with sessions on digital transformation, AI and qualification recognition. Early Learning: Four Nigerian states backed community-based, play-led schools to reach children missing out on early education; Kano has also adopted the model. Access and Support: Ghana’s no-fees policy covered 470 first-year students at SDA College of Education. Liberia’s education investment pitch prompted Canadian partners to seek 90 days to coordinate support. Student Safety: Ghana ordered an investigation into an alleged assault on a student by two teachers. In South Africa’s Western Cape, six teachers were struck off the register, five in cases involving sexual misconduct against learners.