Displaying items by tag: Education

A new bill will aim to bolster child protection by empowering local councils to intervene when home environments are deemed unsafe. This proposed legislation, unveiled by education secretary Bridget Phillipson, will end the automatic right to home-school children. It will introduce mandatory registers for children not in school and unique identifier numbers to ensure no child 'falls through the cracks’. It aims to promote collaboration between schools, police, and children’s social care to enhance safeguarding measures. This comes in the wake of Sara Sharif’s tragic murder, a high-profile case which exposed systemic failures. Her removal from school and the closure of her case after six days despite clear warnings underscore the need for reform. The bill is seen as a foundation for change, emphasising the importance of improved data-sharing to prevent children from becoming invisible in the system.

Guediawaye beach, close to Senegal’s capital Dakar, is suffering from coastal erosion, leaving residents with limited access to safe, local beaches. The Senegal Youth Consortium (CJS) has launched a project to rehabilitate the beach while empowering youth. Through cultural and sports activities such as swimming, boxing, and golf, the initiative attracts hundreds of young people each weekend. It educates participants about environmental issues, particularly coastal erosion, and encourages them to take ownership of the beach’s preservation. The project is set to create 400 jobs in the coming months; unemployment is particularly prevalent among Senegal’s youth. The country’s coastline is estimated to be retreating by 0.5 to 2 metres per year. Meanwhile, a new technique for combating erosion is being trialled in Togo: see

UK universities are warning of a financial crisis that could lead to significant cuts unless the government takes action. According to the president of Universities UK, the sector is at a 'fork in the road' and risks 'sliding into decline' if funding issues are not addressed. Universities have been facing reduced income from domestic tuition fees, which have not kept up with inflation since 2012, and a drop in international students due to visa rule changes and global financial issues. 40% of universities in England are projecting deficits, and students may see larger class sizes and cuts to staffing and courses. While the Government is exploring solutions, skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith stated that full state funding for universities is not the answer; she called for a more balanced approach. Meanwhile, union leaders are appealing for increased public funding, but with accountability for how those funds are used, particularly in supporting staff.

Australia, which currently has one of the biggest international student markets in the world, is to introduce a cap on new enrolments, limiting them to 270,000 in 2025, as part of efforts to reduce overall migration to pre-pandemic levels. Each educational institution will face specific restrictions, with vocational and training providers seeing the largest cuts. The move has sparked outrage among tertiary education providers, who argue it could damage the sector and economy. Education minister Jason Clare defended the policy, citing the need to improve the quality of education and address issues of unethical practices among some providers. The cap aims to alleviate pressures on housing and infrastructure, with additional reforms including tougher English-language requirements and incentives for universities to build student housing.

Twenty Afghan women, whose medical studies were abruptly halted when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, will finally resume their education in Scotland after years of uncertainty. The women, banned from universities by the Taliban, have been granted visas under a unique scheme involving the charity Linda Norgrove Foundation, the UK Home Office, and the Scottish government. They will study at prestigious universities across Scotland. Some were just one exam away from qualifying as doctors when the Taliban imposed the ban, while others had years of hospital experience. The women, who spent their time in hiding and studying English, are excited about their new opportunities in Scotland, where they will be treated as residents, allowing them to study without paying tuition fees and receive student loans. This breakthrough came after prolonged advocacy efforts to adjust visa rules and open a resettlement pathway for vulnerable Afghan women.

A Level results for 2024 have been revealed, with 27.8% of UK students achieving top grades of A or A*, marking an increase from last year’s 27.2% and surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This is the highest proportion of A* grades awarded since their introduction in 2010, excluding the pandemic years when grades were based on teacher assessments. Despite the increase in top grades, the overall pass rate (A* to E) fell slightly to 97.2%, down from 97.3% last year and 97.6% in 2019. The number of students accepted into UK degree courses rose by 3% from last year, with 425,680 placements secured so far. In a notable trend, boys outperformed girls at the A* grade level, continuing a historical pattern that was briefly interrupted during the pandemic. While many students celebrated their success, challenges persisted, such as the discovery of unsafe building materials in some schools, which led to disruptions. Calls for an uplift in marks for affected students were not universally granted, highlighting ongoing concerns about educational inequality.

Following ongoing Pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place at university and other campuses nationwide, the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham have secured court orders to end student protests occupying campus areas. The High Court's orders ruled in favour of the universities, determining the students were trespassing and suggesting alternative protest methods. The protests, part of a broader movement across British universities, accuse institutions of being complicit in Palestinian casualties and call for divestment from arms firms. In Birmingham, Mariyah Ali, a named defendant, expressed disappointment but remains committed to her cause, considering an appeal. In Nottingham, former student River Butterworth faced legal action. Mr Justice Johnson concluded that the protesters had no substantial case against the universities and that their human rights were not infringed. The London School of Economics had similarly barred encampments in May.

Louisiana has become the first US state to order all classrooms, from elementary to university level, to display a poster of the Ten Commandments. The Republican-backed measure describes the commandments as foundational to state and national government. The law is expected to face challenges from civil rights groups, who will argue that it violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion. The commandments must be in large, readable font, next to a ‘context statement’ about their historical role in American education. There have been numerous legal battles over the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings, including schools, courthouses and police stations. In the past, the Supreme Court has struck down similar laws, ruling that displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools lacked a secular legislative purpose and was inherently religious.

A recent report highlights that more than half of UK students are working long hours in paid jobs to support themselves through their studies. 55% of students work an average of 17 hours per week. Some work over 35 hours, impacting their academic performance and mental health. Rising living costs and insufficient student loans are primary reasons for this trend. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected, often having to choose between work and study. Many students report feeling stressed and fatigued, which affects their ability to focus on their coursework. The report calls for increased financial support for students and better job flexibility from employers to accommodate their academic commitments. These findings underscore the need for a systemic approach to address the financial pressures faced by students in higher education.

Heavy rains have flooded schools in Somalia's central Hiran region, forcing over 37,000 students out of school. The flooding has damaged learning materials and classrooms, displacing many students to distant locations and complicating efforts to resume education. Parents fear the disruption will negatively affect their children's performance in upcoming national exams, and local teachers are concerned about the long-term impact on education. Parents are urging the government to establish schools on higher grounds to avoid future disruptions. Last year, the government organised special exams after similar flooding incidents. Officials say they are committed to ensuring students can participate in exams despite the current challenges.