AGP Executive Report

Education Budget Pressure (Philippines): A civil society group says the proposed 2027 DepEd budget would cut support for learners with the biggest barriers, including Special Needs Education (down ~18.5%), Indigenous Peoples Education (more than halved), and Alternative Learning System funding. Literacy Push (Malaysia): Malaysia marks International Literacy Day with a call for reading to become a nationwide habit by 2030, involving government, libraries, schools, families, and media. STEM Gender Gap (UK): EngineeringUK urges action after data show girls and young women remain underrepresented on engineering and technology pathways. Technical Pathways (UK): Darwen’s school is approved to become England’s 45th University Technical College, expanding employer-linked routes. School Place Crunch (South Africa): Gauteng’s grade 1 and 8 intake sees application numbers far outstrip capacity, renewing placement worries. School Safety & Discipline (Trinidad & Tobago): A Tobago schoolboy is arrested over a relative’s death as the new term begins, raising concerns about students’ futures. Online Safety (Australia): A national child-protection campaign shares practical steps for parents to reduce risks online. Skills Alignment (Sri Lanka): Cabinet approves a 10-year TVET roadmap to fix skills mismatches and reshape vocational training governance.

Skills-first education push (Philippines): President Marcos Jr. urged schools and businesses to align training with a changing labor market, citing ADB findings that many graduates work outside their training. Budget and reform focus (Philippines): Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the country is “middle-of-the-pack” in SEA education quality and pointed to Vietnam’s teacher training and budget discipline as a model. Higher-ed and climate of learning (Malaysia): Malaysia’s higher education minister said haze hasn’t disrupted classes yet, with online teaching as a backup. Court fight over school funding (Israel): Education Minister Yoav Kisch asked the High Court to preserve proportional funding for party-affiliated haredi schools, challenging a dispute over whether core subjects are taught. AI in classrooms (US): Florida State University faced concerns over AI-voiced chemistry lecture videos tied to a paid platform. Early literacy and identity (St. Maarten): Educator Angelique J.G. Romou launched a children’s book for International Literacy Day, linking reading to local culture and pride. School start logistics (Trinidad & Tobago): The education ministry said all 777 government schools opened for 2026/27, with repairs continuing after hours and laptops planned for first-term students.

Philippines Education Funding: DepEd chief Sonny Angara warned the private education voucher program could reach fewer students next year after a P3 billion cut tied to senior high trade-track and junior high contracting schemes. Anti-Bullying Push: Angara also said DepEd is fast-tracking hiring of school counselors and training teachers to tackle bullying, with child-protection mechanisms strengthened. Inclusive Education Gap: DepEd is seeking an extra P541.5 million to train and hire more staff for special needs education as 2027 budget cuts threaten scale. Malaysia Haze Rules: Malaysia’s education minister said parents can keep children home during haze; schools close when the Air Pollutant Index hits 200. Vietnam Higher-Education Links: Malaysia’s consul general urged small university consortia to boost expertise-sharing and student mobility. US Student Loans: SAVE plan shutdown notices are driving higher monthly payments as borrowers switch to new repayment options. UK Support for Neurodivergent Students: A free university guide targets disability support access, including DSA and exam arrangements. UK School Results: East London and Essex schools feature in the UK’s A-level league table, with Bancroft’s School ranking 30th. UK Phone Policy: One Hampshire school allows “brick phones” only, citing safety and distraction concerns. Pakistan School Outsourcing Debate: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s plan to outsource low-performing primary schools faces scrutiny over whether it fixes deeper issues like staffing and infrastructure.

Higher Education & International Links: Malaysia’s UniMAP says it’s “on the right track” to go global by deepening partnerships with industry and ASEAN institutions, including student mobility through its International Leadership Mobility programme. Teachers’ Day & Professional Values: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma urged SSUHS graduates to serve with empathy, while multiple Teachers’ Day events highlighted teacher impact and inclusive support for learners. School Safety & Disruption: India’s Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi said he spoke with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta after a five-storey building collapsed at Satya Niketan, with students feared trapped and calls for safety probes. Language Rights in Schools: Students in Kobanê boycotted classes after a decree limited Kurdish-language education to three lessons a week, demanding schooling in their mother tongue. Digital Push in Primary Education: Goa announced every government primary school will receive at least two tablets, plus teacher training, to expand digital learning. Enrollment Snapshot (US): Pennsylvania reported small shifts at several elementary schools, including Homeville Elementary down to 417 students and Collegium Charter down to 2,376. Policy Debate: Alaska lawmakers are weighing clearer testing expectations for correspondence students, citing low participation rates.

Pre-K Access Expansion (Nevada, U.S.): United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and Nevada’s education department highlighted expanded access to free Pre-K, outlining eligibility and enrollment options. Madrasas Crackdown (Uttarakhand, India): Authorities sealed or shut 20 unrecognised madrasas, including new actions in Dehradun and Haldwani, as the state tightens recognition rules. School Support for Sanitation Workers (Srinagar, India): Srinagar Municipal Corporation launched an education initiative with scholarship-based coaching and support for children aiming for Class IX–XII and exams like NEET/JEE. Education Under Pressure (Syria): Parents in Damascus are scrambling to buy school supplies as prices stay high, with families sharing items to cope. Teachers’ Day Recognition (India): President Murmu honoured 82 teachers with National Awards, spotlighting innovation and technology-enabled learning. AI in Education Pilot (El Salvador): An OECD-linked assessment of an AI tutoring pilot found results comparable to PISA 2022 averages for Sweden and Germany, with plans to scale nationwide. Safety & Readiness (Sri Lanka/Caribbean context): Kuwait’s education ministry reported resolving thousands of school readiness reports ahead of the 2026/27 term. Conflict Impact (Yemen): Reports say a Houthi ballistic missile targeted an education office in Hays, raising fears for staff and nearby residents.

School Closures Due to Haze: Sarawak (Malaysia) will temporarily close 54 primary and 9 secondary schools in the Bintulu Division from Sept 7–11, citing very unhealthy air readings, with Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) during the shutdown. Teachers’ Day Pushes Policy and AI: India’s Teachers’ Day coverage spans political attacks on the “broken education system,” plus state and city initiatives—Delhi’s MCD announced mentor “Nigam Shree Vidyalayas,” while Maharashtra launched a teacher essay contest on conscious AI use in classrooms. Education Reform at Scale: Tanzania plans to build 16,000+ classrooms and ensure every village has a secondary school as compulsory education extends to Form Four. Governance and Textbooks: South Africa’s education standoff escalates after a DG greenlights a foundation phase textbook tender despite a minister’s suspension, with calls for urgent presidential intervention. Higher Ed and Learning Tech: IIIT Hyderabad launched CETLS, a research center on how people learn in an AI-driven world, focusing on deeper learning rather than just task completion. Access and Support: Guyana unveiled GOAL Sports Scholarships to help athletes pursue education alongside training. Accountability in Education Funding: Georgia’s former special education director and her husband face charges tied to alleged $50K school grant theft.

School Choice & Student Support (US): Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted a Birmingham family using education savings accounts under the CHOOSE Act, saying the funding helped their sons move to a private school better matched to their needs. Curriculum & Controversy (US): Texas education leaders approved changes to the high school social studies curriculum, including how Islam and Christianity are taught, drawing strong opposition from Muslim advocates over wording. Governance & Accountability (US Higher Ed): Florida Atlantic University’s Student Government Senate faced scrutiny after agendas and meeting minutes were posted late, raising Sunshine Law transparency concerns. Local School Updates (US): North Carolina’s Park View Elementary in Mooresville welcomed the All Kids Bike learn-to-ride program for kindergarten PE, while Iredell-Statesville Board of Education District 2’s vacancy process is now underway after a legal deadline passed. Home Education Oversight (UK): Swindon reported more than 500 children are home educated, with renewed focus on safeguarding and attendance enforcement. Learning & Equity (Global): New Mexico’s Yazzie-Martinez plaintiffs asked a judge to reject the state’s education reform plan and let them write their own.

School Attendance & Fees: Uganda’s education ministry warned headteachers not to send learners home over unpaid school fees, saying it harms concentration and violates universal education goals. Air Quality Disruption: Malaysia’s Sarawak will temporarily close 647 schools for five days due to unhealthy haze, shifting classes to home-based learning. AI in Higher Education: Malaysia’s higher education minister urged universities to “embed” AI across all subjects, including humanities, while Google expands free AI training for Indian educators. AI Readiness Gap: A Canada survey found most students use generative AI, but many educators say schools aren’t preparing learners for responsible workplace use. Assessment Integrity: Ohio education officials are investigating testing anomalies after statewide review flagged issues at 52 more school buildings. Inclusive Learning & Identity: India’s Punjab School Education Board became the first education board to use UIDAI’s paperless identity verification framework for students and staff. Student Safety (SEND): Northern Ireland faces criticism over special-education transport risks, with parents calling it a “lottery.” STEM/Wellbeing Programs: Mongolia is rolling out chess lessons nationwide, and URI runs a sleepaway camp modelled for kids with Type 1 diabetes.

School Safety & Health: Rossiter Elementary in Montana confirmed PFAS/PFOA in its well water and installed specialized filtration, saying drinking water is safe and classes will continue. Local Funding Politics: Missoula-area district leaders voted not to put another levy on the ballot, citing taxpayer fatigue amid inflation and concerns about how bond requests get politicized. Student Voice: Helena-area boards welcomed new student representatives for 2026–27, with students pushing for stronger career and technical education options. Back-to-School Support: Sheehy and Pete’s Barbershop teamed up for a supply drive plus free haircuts and meals for K–12 students in Virginia. Security for School Resumption: Police and Edo State’s Education Ministry in Nigeria expanded “Safe Schools” coordination ahead of the new term. International Education Economy: New Zealand’s international education export earnings topped pre-COVID 2019 levels, nearing NZ$5B for the year to June 2026. Equity in Learning: India’s education gender gap is far wider in rural areas than cities, with rural gaps about four times larger. Study Abroad Costs: A new report finds rising overseas education costs are pushing Gen Z to reconsider study abroad. Workforce Training: Hyundai and KOICA will invest 5 billion won in Ghana to build automotive maintenance training centers, including EV and hybrid skills. Early Educator Relief: Massachusetts launched student loan repayment awards for early childhood educators, up to $7,500 per year. AI & Values in Higher Ed: The University of Scranton held faculty discussions on a new papal encyclical about safeguarding people in the age of AI. Discipline Rules in Practice: Iowa schools are rolling out a new law allowing removal of disruptive students, with teachers deciding and minimum time-outs set by grade level.

Budget Watch: The Netherlands coalition debate over Budget 2027 so far leaves education and research untouched, with plans to reverse prior cuts and add €1.5bn. STEM Early Years: Indonesia is rolling out STEM learning in early childhood to support its 13-year compulsory education push, using hands-on, sensory activities and updated digital materials. Student Safety Rules: Qatar’s education ministry reiterates a zero-tolerance policy on punishing students—physical, verbal, or mental—urging principals to protect students’ dignity and wellbeing. Higher Ed Funding: Bulgaria’s parliament approved Higher Education Act amendments affecting student scholarships, including clearer eligibility for full-time state-subsidized programmes. Inclusive Education Access: Curaçao amended special education law to make compulsory education rules apply to students in special primary education, plus extra teacher training. Back-to-School Costs: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers used his radio address to warn families about rising back-to-school prices and the pressure on educators and school budgets. Global Refugee Education: SOLA says Afghan girls have found safe, continued schooling at its Rwanda campus. Community College Pipeline: United Way Miami urged students to claim Pell grants, citing millions left unclaimed locally.

Quality Benchmarking: Bangladesh’s Bobby Hajjaj says primary education success should be measured by how much students learn, not buildings or spending, as teacher recruitment moves toward October appointments. Hill Region Focus: Chittagong Hill Tracts officials tied GPA-5 celebrations to a renewed push for quality education and scholarships. School Inspections: Maharashtra’s education department launches a statewide “Let’s go to school” inspection drive to check infrastructure, teaching, and early learning basics. Funding Reform: Delaware’s governor signed bills creating a needs-based, student-centered public school funding formula with ongoing commission oversight. Special Education Staffing: Wisconsin will use a $10.5M grant to train and retain special education teachers, expanding apprenticeship and induction support. AI in Classrooms: Los Angeles Unified is restricting student access to generative AI while building a curriculum to teach responsible use. Higher Ed Pathways: Georgia Tech leads a national microelectronics education network to align training with semiconductor workforce needs. Labor Dispute: Bahamas’ Supreme Court ordered educators back to work after a BEMU strike injunction. Equity & Rights: Rahul Gandhi reiterated education as a right for every student, including marginalized communities.

Teacher Appointment Reform Clash (Cyprus): Education Minister Athina Michaelidou says the government is preparing an updated plan to overhaul the teacher appointment system, while unions warn it could leave experienced teachers without permanent posts. Policy Vote (Romania): Romania’s Senate Education Committee backed scrapping an additional high school entrance exam, moving the bill to the Senate floor. Textbooks Delivered to Doorsteps (India): Punjab’s School Education Board and India Post will deliver Class I–XII textbooks via an online “Pustak Portal,” with a 15% discount. LGBTQ+ Wellbeing in Schools (UK): Just Like Us’ Pride Groups programme was shortlisted for a national education award after a creative-writing resource supported LGBTQ+ pupils’ mental health. Afghan Girls’ Education (Rwanda): SOLA inaugurated a permanent campus in Rwanda, continuing education for Afghan girls after relocation. Teacher Quality Focus (India): Meghalaya’s CM Conrad K. Sangma stressed that “no education system can rise above the quality of teachers.” School Funding Pressure (Zambia): Zambia’s teachers’ union welcomed more education investment but warned overcrowding and shortages still threaten quality. STEM/Career Pathways: A new £37m college building in the UK and multiple career-education events highlight growing links between learning and jobs.

Early Childhood Workforce Recognition: Australia’s Childcare Alliance marked Early Childhood Educators’ Day, spotlighting the 200,000+ educators shaping children’s early emotional and social development. Student Support & Re-Engagement: A Swindon psychologist launched Pivot Psychological Services to help young people return to mainstream education or thrive in alternative provision. Access to Schooling for Girls: Bangladesh’s education minister said the government will distribute bicycles to secondary schoolgirls to boost female education. AI in Classrooms (and its risks): A JanAI report found 72% of Karnataka government teachers are positive about AI, but training, institutional support, and student over-dependence plus privacy concerns remain major worries. Scholarships Deadline Extended: India’s Ministry of Education pushed the NMMS 2026-27 application deadline to Sept. 30. Afghan Girls’ Education Continues: SOLA opened a permanent school in Rwanda after fleeing Afghanistan, keeping girls’ learning going despite ongoing danger. School Transport Strain: Parents in Galway say about 40 children were refused bus places, leaving families scrambling each school year. Educator Pipeline: Kentucky’s “Grow Your Own” program welcomed new future educators through a partnership with Western Kentucky University. Textbook Correction: South Korea’s Education Ministry ordered a correction to a middle-school textbook’s Korean flag image after public backlash. Higher Ed for Jobs: Sri Lanka’s AI Academy partnered with Tomorrow University to offer German-recognised AI degrees via a work-study model.

AI Skills for Work: Bisk and Michigan State University are launching a new AI & Business Analytics certificate series for professionals, with four short 100% online courses aimed at helping managers lead AI-enabled change. Inclusive Education Debate (Curaçao): MFK MP Sandy Losiabaar is pushing to replace “special education” with “appropriate education,” arguing schools should adapt to students’ needs instead of labeling them. Media Scrutiny (Curaçao): Teacher-entrepreneur Eugène Maduro says Curaçao’s media should focus more on the education system’s purpose and assumptions—not just exams, strikes, and incidents. Student Safety & Privacy: Florida’s Gov. DeSantis order has led Leon County to suspend Flock camera use pending stronger safeguards. Attendance Tech: Qatar’s Ministry of Education is rolling out the “Hodori” palm-recognition system across government schools and buses to improve attendance tracking. Teacher Strike Watch (Seattle): Seattle Public Schools and the teachers’ union are at an 11:59 p.m. deadline to avoid a strike that could delay the school start. Education Under Pressure (Ukraine): Ukraine reports Russian attacks have damaged 4,650 education facilities, with 423 destroyed. Legal Relief for Students (India): India’s Supreme Court ordered closure of FIRs against students tied to NEET-UG protest cases from July 20–25.

Central Bank Leadership: Indonesia’s parliament approved Destry Damayanti as the next governor of Bank Indonesia, clearing the way for the first woman to lead the central bank after Perry Warjiyo’s July resignation. Curriculum Politics: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis attacked NCERT history textbooks, alleging the UPA era gave “13 pages for Mughals” and only one for Shivaji, while claiming the current curriculum expands Shivaji’s coverage. Higher Ed Affordability: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged the state higher education board to build a framework for 3-year bachelor’s degrees by Dec. 31 to boost affordability and workforce readiness. Vocational Pathways: UK coverage highlights a push to expand technical and vocational learning from age 14 and grow apprenticeships, with research noting lower completion rates for some disadvantaged groups. Equity & Safety in Schools: A report on bullying asks what happens to victims, while separate local education data shows how uneven representation can be across districts. Reproductive Health Training: UH Mānoa’s nursing professor helped shape a new reproductive health textbook edition, expanding coverage on abortion, early pregnancy loss, and reproductive justice. Opioid Education: Wisconsin overdose deaths fell sharply as Narcan access, overdose test strips, and community education expanded.

Special Education Leadership: After nearly four decades in special education, Catherine Cooper will retire as executive director of the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative at the end of August. Teacher Accountability: Leicestershire reports five teachers disciplined or banned by the Teaching Regulation Agency, including a life ban for a sexually motivated relationship with a pupil and other cases involving filming students and misconduct on the job. Early Childhood Conference Controversy: Alabama’s ADECE says it’s working with a conference partner after questions about booking a pro-LGBTQ/DEI speaker; the original post was removed and ADECE says the views don’t match agency priorities. School Safety in Conflict Zones: Ukraine’s education system is preparing for a new year starting Sept. 1, with shelter access for most students and guidance to avoid mass events where strike risk is higher. Curriculum Politics (US): Texas State Board of Education reconvenes to finalize high school social studies revisions, drawing pushback over inclusivity. Funding & Access: Oregon reinstates a financial education requirement for high school graduation, covering banking, investing, budgeting, taxes, and money management. Local Learning & Sports: Guantánamo launches a sports-focused school year with in-person instruction and decentralized coaching teams.