AGP Executive Report

Student Power in Serbia: A student-backed opposition movement won 141 of 250 parliamentary seats, ending the ruling party’s 12-year hold on power. Its next challenge is turning protest momentum into stable government. International Education: Australia’s appeal to prospective overseas students has dropped sharply: fewer than one in four now rank it as a top choice, down from more than one in three six months ago, amid tighter and shifting visa rules. Rural Nursing Pipeline: Heritage University received a $2.5 million federal grant to help students from 11 rural Washington high schools earn nursing degrees and serve local communities. Career Skills: Charles County schools are considering a data science career pathway, developed with the College of Southern Maryland, for launch next fall. Learning and Health: A study of more than 100,000 UK participants links an extra year of schooling to lower later-life dementia risk, including for people with elevated genetic susceptibility.

Severe Weather: Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have closed schools as Cyclone Arnab approaches, with emergency teams on standby and authorities preparing school buildings as possible shelters. Student Politics: A student-backed list has defeated Serbia’s ruling party after nearly two years of protests; its push for anti-corruption and judicial reforms now faces the test of governing. Education Investment: Qatar says a QR6.4 billion public-private programme will develop 22 schools, alongside efforts to expand skills training and equal access to learning. Girls’ Education: An Italian aid worker says an underground Afghan school taught girls barred from secondary and higher education, including daughters of Taliban members; the account could not be independently verified. University Disruption: Glasgow Caledonian University staff have begun nine days of strikes over proposed job cuts, with the union warning that much of students’ first term has already been disrupted. Learning Access: Liberia’s Nyonblee Cares Foundation graduated 52 children from an accelerated programme designed to help out-of-school students return to formal education.

Student Support: First Nations University of Canada is offering 250 bursaries worth $1,800 each to help students afford unpaid placements, including practicums and fieldwork. Student Protests: France has promised to overhaul its university admissions platform by 2028 after weeks of protests over access, school funding and living costs; student leaders say the measures fall short. Serbia’s student-led movement also scored a decisive election victory after months of protests. Learning and AI: Michigan educators are undertaking science-of-reading training as state reading scores remain low. In Australia, warnings that AI could enable cheating have renewed debate over exam security as more than 80,000 students begin final tests. School Disruptions: Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are closing schools in vulnerable areas ahead of Cyclone Arnab, expected to make landfall Wednesday.

Campus Safety: Philippine police ordered stronger bomb-threat planning in Metro Manila schools after a threat at the University of Santo Tomas prompted evacuations and remote classes. Student Power: Serbia’s student-backed opposition claimed a landmark election victory, ending the ruling party’s 14-year hold on power; Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat. Campus Democracy: Jamia Millia Islamia announced student union elections after a two-decade pause, but protesters say the timeline depends on constitution approval and does not meet their demands; they vowed to continue their hunger strike. Education Under Attack: An Israeli strike on a Gaza City university killed three people, including staff, and wounded students, as Gaza’s education ministry said classes were underway. Teacher Workforce: England is considering allowing council-school teachers to complete contracted hours over four days, with other teachers covering classes on the fifth. Digital Learning: India’s prime minister launched a scheme to provide 500,000 students with Chromebooks over two years.

Gaza’s Education Crisis: Strikes on Gaza City’s Islamic University killed three staff members and injured students, forcing the campus to suspend classes and other activities. School Facilities: A new flood-resilient building in Sarawak, Malaysia, will serve 94 pupils after years of disruption. Student Politics: Serbia’s election put President Aleksandar Vučić against a student-led opposition movement, following nearly two years of protests; results were not yet clear. Education Protests: Demonstrations across Europe have grown from complaints about teacher shortages and rundown schools into wider protests over living costs and public services. Teacher Support: Haiti plans to turn 101 public schools into centers for teacher development and classroom support. Student Aid: Delhi is preparing individual aftercare plans and higher-education grants of up to ₹2 lakh for young people leaving care homes.

Serbia’s Student Movement: Voters face a close contest between the ruling party and a student-backed slate, after nearly two years of protests over corruption allegations following a deadly railway-station collapse. Student Support: Malaysia will give about 90,000 Form Six students RM2,500 in living allowances next year, paid across three semesters. AI in Classrooms: India’s NCERT is introducing a module on AI, deepfakes and misinformation, with activities designed to work even without digital devices. Access to Education: A new electricity connection at a remote Philippine school will benefit 315 Indigenous students, helping narrow the digital divide. Learning and Wellbeing: Qatar’s 2025 PISA results show long-term gains in science, while South Korean data show 26.2% of middle schoolers reported prolonged feelings of depression—more than high school students. University Funding: Ulster University’s provost warns that further cuts could threaten teaching quality as the institution faces nearly 500 redundancies.

School Access: Electricity has reached a remote school in Bukidnon, Philippines, bringing modern learning opportunities to 315 Indigenous students. Haze Disruption: Schools across Malaysia’s Johor state are set to reopen Monday as air quality improves, with health precautions in place and year-end exams approaching. Student Safety: In Tamil Nadu, police arrested a teacher after a student’s family alleged caste-based bullying over his food choices preceded his death. AI Skills: More than 9,000 Malaysian secondary students have received AI training through a national hackathon, which also issued over 22,000 certifications. Scholarships: Sumangala Steel committed ₹2.8 crore for engineering scholarships for 70 students from workers’ families. Anti-Jewish Harassment: England has accepted all 27 recommendations from an independent review of antisemitism in schools, which documented abuse of Jewish pupils and families’ declining confidence in schools.

International Study: Australia’s visa changes could force up to 30,000 Bhutanese students to leave and reapply from abroad, disrupting their studies. School Access: A Czech weekend school serving about 70 children fears losing its Manchester classrooms when the host primary school closes; local authorities say they will help find alternatives. Student Voice: Serbia’s student-led movement is challenging the ruling party ahead of Sunday’s election, while Indonesian students are demanding action over months of toxic wildfire haze. Safety and Safeguards: Manitoba has ordered schools to bar staff from messaging students on unauthorized platforms. In Georgia, at least 12 people were injured when a bus carrying a high school football team overturned. Higher Education: Belize’s education ministry is checking whether online University of the People remains accredited. Malaysia says its 2027 education budget will approach RM69 billion, including higher incentives for special-needs educators. Student Well-being: A survey finds 35% of students use AI for emotional support, highlighting questions about access to human help.

Education Funding: Malaysia’s MARA agency plans to tie education financing more closely to graduates’ employment and earnings, prioritizing students entering strategic fields and top universities. Learning Research: A Florida Atlantic University study found that larger physical movements improved learning and accuracy on complex pattern-recognition tasks, with benefits persisting when learners switched to button presses. Safer Schools: The Philippines has completed 391 modular school buildings designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, with 150 more under construction; units can be installed in four to eight weeks. Student Support: Alberta is updating classroom support guidelines for the first time in more than 20 years, aiming for more consistent help tailored to students’ needs. Access and Inclusion: A new campus in Georgia gives the tuition-free Global Village Project, serving refugee girls, space for up to 100 students after years of turning applicants away. School Environment: Cambodia’s education and environment ministries are distributing 34,110 bins to 11,370 schools as part of a drive to cut plastic waste and improve disposal.

School Disruptions: Typhoon Champi forced school closures across Taiwan, while Storm Austen brought closures and late openings in parts of Britain. New Places: Qatar signed contracts for four private schools expected to add 5,000 places. In England, Leicestershire approved a £30 million, 252-place school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Access and Funding: UNESCO and UNICEF report that 53% of Afghan children lack access to formal education. In South Africa, irregular spending at three education bodies rose to R96.3 million, while school infrastructure funds went unspent. International Students: Canada recorded 37,090 new study-permit arrivals in August, but arrivals for January–August were down 71% from the same period in 2024. Maths in Schools: Four US states have set minimum daily maths teaching times, but scheduling pressures have prompted Maryland to delay its requirement for a year.

Malaysia’s Education Plan: The 2027 budget will fund a new curriculum under the Malaysia Education Plan 2026–2035, alongside aid for families, special-needs support and upgrades to schools and sports facilities. The education minister says effective delivery is the key challenge. Student Protests: Around 10,000 students and teachers marched in Athens demanding more school funding, better pay and smaller classes, as educators also protested staff shortages and living costs. In Albania, students called for nationwide demonstrations as protests entered their tenth day. Skills and Access: Moldova will invest more than €12 million to modernize four vocational schools and a college, part of an €80 million program expected to benefit 21,000 students. In North Carolina, community colleges are expanding career training and employment support for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Student Support: A resource fair in Idaho connected special-education students and families with employers, housing and health services to help plan for life after graduation.

Weather Disruptions: Heavy rain forced school closures in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district and Puducherry, with more downpours forecast. School Safety: Some Belgrade schools shortened classes amid election gatherings and a major basketball match, raising parents’ concerns about student safety. Higher Education: Tel-Hai opened as Israel’s 11th research university, with more than 5,000 students enrolled for the new academic year, returning to pre-war levels. Access to University: Zanzibar’s president promised full scholarships from next year for students who earn top Form Six results, regardless of their field. Afghanistan: UNICEF and UNESCO report male university enrollment has fallen by one-third since 2019. AI and Learning: Researchers warn that AI tools may hinder learning when students use them without guidance; established learning science offers educators a framework for deciding when the technology helps. School Policy: UK guidance on antisemitism leaves decisions on political badges to individual schools, rather than imposing a blanket ban.

School Safety: Bend-La Pine students returned to class Wednesday after a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary killed three children and a teacher; the school remains closed, with extra police and counselors at other campuses. In Malaysia, a Kuching international school plans tighter security after a student injured a teacher. Public Education: About 10,000 students and teachers rallied in Athens for more funding, better facilities and smaller classes, amid wider European protests over costs and education. Teacher Training: Malaysia plans tailored mathematics training, specialist mentors and designated teacher-training centers under its 2026–35 education plan. Student Well-being: Uzbekistan will introduce annual psychological assessments in kindergartens and schools from 2026–27, extending them to higher education the following year. Access and Achievement: Oregon won a $4.1 million federal grant to help community college students meet food and housing needs; Kyrgyz students earned four medals at an international informatics Olympiad.

Climate and Learning: El Niño is worsening water shortages in Fiji’s Lautoka, forcing some students to wear the same uniform for days as they prepare for exams. The Philippines is drafting school measures for expected heat and water disruptions through 2027. School Safety: Fiji has removed 21 senior students after they struck 37 younger pupils with sticks; the affected students are receiving counselling. Exams and Access: Türkiye will introduce centrally standardized written exams across middle and high schools, while late delivery of exam papers left remote schools in Papua New Guinea racing to prepare. Funding and Fairness: UK early-childhood providers say inadequate public funding is driving closures and limiting access for disadvantaged families. Student Voice: Protests in France over overcrowded classrooms, ageing facilities and uncertain pathways are raising wider questions about whether education is preparing young people for an AI-shaped job market.

Disaster Preparedness: The Philippines’ education department has told schools in areas threatened by Super Typhoon Rosal to protect students and staff while preparing to keep learning going through possible closures. Student Health: A Malaysian healthcare initiative aims to reach 4,500 students at 15 secondary schools with hearing-health education and early screening, highlighting how undetected hearing problems can affect learning. Higher Education: Qatar’s University of Doha for Science and Technology has become the country’s first institution to receive national institutional accreditation, as 13 other universities enter the review process. Access to Education: Lawyers urged Ireland’s High Court to overturn the visa refusal of a Gazan student offered a fully funded engineering place at University College Cork. School Connectivity: North Carolina’s attorney general joined 22 others in urging federal regulators to preserve E-Rate funding, which helps schools and libraries provide internet access, especially in rural communities. School Attendance: Kerala recorded 2,914 school dropouts in 2024–25, including 1,070 children from migrant families.

Higher Education: More than 10 Chinese universities have opened technology-and-business schools this year to train graduates in both engineering and commercial skills. South Africa plans tighter oversight of university research subsidies after concerns institutions are inflating publication claims. Equity and Inclusion: Western Australia has proposed laws barring religious schools from excluding students or staff for their sexuality or disability, while Telangana is moving to implement a 25% private-school admissions quota for disadvantaged children. AI in Education: UNESCO says teachers need training and support to use AI responsibly, and education systems should ensure the tools genuinely improve learning. Student Access: Canada plans to reduce new international student arrivals to 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 annually in 2027 and 2028. School Safety and Wellbeing: Timor-Leste plans to close schools amid toxic haze from Indonesian wildfires. Pakistan’s education ministry and the World Food Programme discussed school meals and other measures to boost girls’ enrolment, attendance and retention.