AGP Executive Report

Education Infrastructure Push (Gujarat): Odisha-style textbook and facilities controversies keep spreading, but Gujarat’s education department is moving fast—ordering schools to fix broken toilets (including girls’ and special-abled), boundary walls, and drinking water after UDISE+ flagged gaps. Inclusive Education Under Strain (UK): A UK audit warns inclusive support is failing in practice as educational support specialists face heavy workloads and spend too much time on paperwork, driving burnout and limiting help for children. Inclusive Standards (Nigeria): UBEC rolls out national minimum standards and implementation guidelines for inclusive and special basic education, plus tools for early identification—aiming to stop children with disabilities being left out. Higher Ed Access & Policy (India/US): Odisha released a PG admission schedule for 2026–27 via CPET, while Florida bars undocumented students from state colleges and GED programs. Accountability & Rights (US/UK): The Trump administration targets “parental rights” issues in US districts over alleged hidden gender-transition policies. In the UK, Bromley Council still can’t close an adult education centre without proper consultation. Workforce & Skills: HeiTech Padu and Crux Education partner to build future-ready training in AI, cybersecurity, and leadership; UT Austin launches an engineering-to-business honors pathway starting Fall 2027. Research & Health Education: Rutgers researchers launch a South Asian dementia risk-tracking effort (SAMARTH), and URI pharmacy researchers pursue new approaches against superbugs. Local Wins: Illinois Valley Community College gets a $10,000 donation for an agriculture education centre; Louisiana names 2027 Teacher/Principal/Early Childhood leaders at its educator awards gala.

India Exam Crisis: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” protests helped force Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over alleged exam paper leaks, with Pralhad Joshi taking additional charge as the government faces renewed calls for deeper education and exam reforms. Anti-Leak Push in Punjab: Punjab’s education minister is again under pressure after fresh paper-leak allegations, with opposition leaders demanding stronger prevention and security, not just harsher penalties. Teacher Skills for the AI Era: A global survey of 4,636 educators proposes a five-part competence model for teaching in the age of AI, emphasizing learning, pedagogy, empathy, innovation and classroom facilitation. Vocational Education, NZ-China Links: New Zealand’s tertiary minister is set to strengthen vocational education and research ties with China, while a major NZ vocational training research forum opens submissions for its 20th year. Local Education Funding: Washington’s WA529 education savings plan reports sharp growth in new accounts and contributions, signaling rising family demand to plan for college and career training. Student Support & Inclusion: Virginia and other regions continue to expand special education leadership and inclusive classroom training, while Ghana pushes sanitation education as part of community health and local governance. Climate & School Greening: Nigeria’s Ondo State trains teachers on climate change education and launches a tree-planting campaign in schools.

Exam Reform Shockwave (India): India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after weeks of youth protests over alleged NEET paper leaks, and Prime Minister Modi announced a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani to focus on examination reform. New Leadership (India): Pralhad Joshi took charge as Union Education Minister (with additional charge) and said he will first understand the ministry before acting. Student Demands (India): Protesters and families are still pushing for transparent exams, fee reimbursement and compensation for students who say they lost years after cancellations and suicides. Primary Education Policy (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s primary education ministry is drafting a new outcomes-based policy, with a first draft due by Aug 17 and added emphasis on foundational learning plus civic and family values. TVET Expansion (Malaysia): Pahang will build the Jelai Community College to expand rural technical and vocational training, including agrotechnology, with a planned 240-student capacity. Local School Partnerships (Philippines): San Fernando City mayor swore in new parent and student leaders for San Fernando Elementary School to strengthen school-community support. Accountability in Exams (Nepal): Nepal’s education minister says police have arrested two people over a leaked TU MBS exam paper and promises punishment.

India Exam Crisis: India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after weeks of nationwide student protests over alleged NEET paper leaks and exam irregularities; President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation and Prime Minister Modi assigned additional charge of the Education Ministry to Pralhad Joshi, while protesters celebrated and called off agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Leadership Transition: Joshi, a veteran BJP MP from Karnataka, said he will take the role with “humility” and continue education reforms tied to NEP. Philippines Education Funding: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged President Marcos Jr. to use his upcoming SONA to report progress on a record P1.35-trillion education budget and address classroom backlogs. Ghana Campus Investment: Ghana earmarked GH¢50 million to operationalize UMaT Kenyasi Number Two campus, boosting lecture space and ICT facilities. J&K Learning & Values: J&K MLA Farooq Shah backed the region as a potential national education hub, stressing education as a mission, not a business. US Classroom Costs: In Las Vegas, teachers-only book sales helped educators stock classrooms cheaply ahead of the new school year.

India’s NEET Fallout: Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister after weeks of nationwide “Cockroach” youth protests over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities, with the movement calling it a major win and ending its Delhi sit-ins after saying demands were accepted. New Leadership: President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation and assigned Pralhad Joshi additional charge of the Education Ministry, while he keeps his current portfolios. Political Pressure: Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, framed the exit as a victory for students but demanded deeper education reforms and accountability, not just a personnel change. Policy and Access Abroad: In the Philippines, Senate leaders urged President Marcos Jr.’s SONA to report progress on a record 2026 education budget, while a new law aims to improve schooling access for children in remote “last mile” areas. Values in Learning: Malaysia’s education groups pushed back against divisive political rhetoric, warning it could erode equal citizenship and national unity.

Teacher Safety & Accountability: Selangor’s education department says it’s cooperating with police after a viral fight outside a secondary school left a 16-year-old student and his father injured, warning against speculation and sharing minors’ identities. State Education Governance: Maryland’s State Board of Education meets July 28 to review MCAP results and cover special education compliance, CTE planning, and summer/out-of-school time. Teacher Shortage Response: Fiji’s education ministry is considering deploying final-year students in high-demand subjects while reviewing placements to address a vacancy count now put at 1,000. Climate & School Infrastructure: Kyrgyzstan is rolling out eco-friendly heating in 21 state schools as part of an air-quality improvement project with KOICA support. Student Protests & Exam Fallout (India): Youth groups in Siliguri staged a NEET paper-leak protest demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and NTA dissolution, as demonstrations continue nationwide. Federal Funding Flexibility (U.S.): South Dakota received a “Returning Education to the States” waiver and Ed-Flex approval, consolidating about $19M/year to give districts more local control. Teacher Training Pipeline: Texas’ UTA College of Education launches a paid teacher residency program starting fall to boost hands-on preparation and address demand.

India NEET Fallout: Dharmendra Pradhan is still refusing to resign as CJP protests keep pressure on Parliament, while the Centre signals major exam reforms are coming. Policy Shake-Up: The government has replaced Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi with IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar amid the paper-leak row. NTA Reforms Watch: The Education Ministry is set to announce sweeping changes to the National Testing Agency at 8 PM, including restructuring and possible staff changes. Civil Rights Rule Change (US): The US Education Department says civil-rights investigators can’t use broad demographic “disparate impact” style statistics to prove discrimination, a move critics call a setback. Teacher Safety & Accountability: A former Massachusetts middle-school teacher accused of raping a 14-year-old pleads not guilty, while Sochi kindergarten staff were arrested after abuse videos surfaced. Learning & Skills (Global/Local): Nigeria and UNESCO launch mobile digital teacher training; Florida rolls out a new teacher resiliency endorsement; Texas approves the Classic Learning Test for public-university admissions.

India NEET fallout: Youth protests over alleged paper leaks kept pressure on the Modi government. Sonia Gandhi accused the administration of “brutalising” students and degrading education, while Rahul Gandhi demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation after PM Modi floated fast-track courts for leak cases. US civil-rights enforcement: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened investigations into five medical schools over alleged racial discrimination in admissions. US Title VI rule changes: The department also moved to remove disparate-impact provisions from Title VI regulations and cut extra compliance burdens for Career and Technical Education programs. Higher-ed policy: Tennessee approved a pathway for “focused” three-year bachelor’s degrees. World Bank on displacement: The World Bank urged more funding for education, health and nutrition for internally displaced children, warning Nigeria’s future human capital is at risk. Inclusive teaching: Illinois State University launched a virtual display for its Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence.

Education Reform Priorities: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim urged the Indian community transformation unit MITRA to focus on quality education, welfare, skills development, and jobs—using grassroots engagement so programs reach those who need them most. AI in Classrooms: Maharashtra is making AI training mandatory for teachers of Classes 1–12 via SCERT’s “AI Saathi” course on DIKSHA. Teacher Recognition: Tennessee named Putnam County educators as nominees for statewide Teacher/Principal honors, while Maine announced 2027 Teacher of the Year semifinalists. Learning Pathways: Kentucky expanded Futuriti.org with a Program & Pathway Finder to help students connect courses to careers and further education. School Support & Safety: Wiscasset, Maine hired a new special education director; Ghana’s ASHMA road safety plan includes school-focused public education and stronger enforcement. Higher Ed Leadership: North Carolina’s community college system board selected Dr. Monty Sullivan to lead. Student Protests & Politics: India’s NEET-related campus tensions continued, with protests demanding the education minister’s resignation. EdTech Awards: Seesaw AI won a CODiE Award for Best AI Solution for Education.

AI for energy resilience: Arizona State University leads a U.S. DOE Genesis Mission project using AI to rapidly test grid scenarios and improve electrical grid reliability. Military research meets AI: The Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey unveiled the first NVIDIA DGX GB300 AI supercomputer for U.S. military education and research. Medical school admissions probes: The U.S. Department of Education opened civil-rights investigations into five medical schools over alleged racial discrimination in admissions. NEET protest standoff: India’s Parliament stayed disrupted as opposition leaders demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation amid the NEET paper-leak controversy. Special education safety cases: A Fairfax County, Virginia special education teacher was charged with assaulting a student, while another Texas case involves a former teacher accused of improper educator-student conduct. Funding and access pressures: Sylvania, Ohio approved a new earned income tax to offset school funding gaps; Sofia, Bulgaria approved funding for only two new kindergartens despite shortages. Digital inclusion: UNESCO and partners pushed inclusive digital transformation in education across Latin America, while Aruba and Curaçao signed an MoU to expand education digitalization and data systems. Student support campaigns: Ohio’s OneOhio Recovery Foundation will launch a statewide public education campaign on cannabis use during pregnancy.

Teacher Pipeline Push: Philippines’ DepEd says it has filled 19,320 of 20,000 Teacher I posts for 2025, aiming to speed hiring and strengthen classroom support. AI Literacy in Schools: Indonesia’s Education Ministry and National Police expand “Paham AI” training via a Training of Trainers model for senior and vocational students, stressing safe and responsible use. State Control Shift (US): U.S. Department of Education approves Arkansas’ Returning Education to the States Waiver, giving more flexibility over funding and accountability. Exam Prep at Scale: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education finalizes Tawjihi preparations for 133,122 students, with thousands of trained staff and disability-focused accommodations. Rural Access via Private Build: Chinese mining firm Sino-Metals Leach helps Zambia’s Kalulushi build a new secondary school, bringing education closer to home. Early Years Funding (UK): Warwickshire County Council backs an £8.2m programme to refurbish 14 nursery buildings, protecting 500+ early years places. CTE Pathways (US): Kentucky expands Futuriti.org with a Program & Pathway Finder to connect high school courses to local career routes. Education Reform (Moldova): Moldova moves schools under the Education and Research Ministry via Territorial Education Agencies as part of the “Restart in Education” plan. AI Gap Survey (US): Instructure survey finds many educators lack formal AI training despite widespread student use.

School Transport Procurement: The Ministry of Education has launched an open tender to select school bus operators for August 2026–June 2028, with requirements covering vehicle licensing/insurance, driver checks, and random drug-and-alcohol testing. Attendance Push: New Zealand reports Term 2 2026 regular attendance hit its highest level since 2016, with 64.2% of students attending regularly. AI in K-12 Safety: Florida’s Department of Education is set to require districts to update internet-safety rules for AI use, citing student privacy protections under FERPA. Education Funding & Policy Reversals: Nepal has withdrawn a 3% equity tax on private education and health after backlash, while Pakistan’s Senate heard concerns that medical students abroad spend about $800m annually. Higher Education Access: A Karnataka high court ruled fathers must fund an unmarried daughter’s higher education beyond age 18. Student Support in the Philippines: Lucena City continued distributing P20,000 educational assistance to 165 students under a national scholarship program. Equity in Research: WHO marked 25 years of Research4Life, expanding affordable access to scientific knowledge across 120+ countries.

Philippines Education Funding: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang,” handing P20,000 educational assistance to 165 students in Lucena City, with barangays receiving P200,000 each for presidential scholars and community support. Philippines–Australia Skills Push: DepEd and Tesda launched the 5-year, P1.6B EQUIP program with Australia to boost job-ready senior high school training, with possible extra AUD20M through 2033. Early Childhood Tech in Malaysia: Malaysia’s KEMAS plans smartboards for all Tabika kindergarten classes by end of next year, alongside AI-linked learning for children from age two. Ghana ICT Access: Telecel Ghana Foundation commissioned a refurbished 20-unit ICT lab for Asikuma schools, adding computers, furniture and internet to strengthen ICT learning. Higher Ed Governance Crisis (South Africa): The minister moved to appoint an independent assessor at University of Venda after unresolved allegations escalated into a governance standoff. India Exam Protest Fallout: Indian opposition leaders renewed calls for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation after police action against student protesters over alleged exam paper leaks. US School Closures: New data says over 1,000 public schools closed in 2025-26 as enrollment drops and budgets tighten. US Reading Alarm: NAEP results show only about 30–31% of students at or above “Proficient” in reading, keeping literacy decline in focus. Entrepreneurship Education Merger: NFTE and BUILD announced plans to merge, aiming to serve 350,000+ students annually with entrepreneurship learning.

Early Childhood Focus: Phinma Education urges the Philippines to tackle learning gaps before school starts, pushing for more investment in nutrition and early childhood development. Cyber Safety for Kids: A two-day cybersecurity camp at Northeastern State University teaches grades 5–8 how to spot online scams and digital risks. College Savings Update (US): Georgia’s Path2College 529 plan raises its account limit to $550,000 and waives the state administrative fee to cut costs for families. Teacher Licensing Reform (US): Tennessee is considering changes to Praxis retakes so candidates can redo only failed sections, aiming to ease shortages without lowering standards. School Choice Legal Fight (US): Arizona faces a new lawsuit aimed at derailing voucher reform efforts on the ballot. AI in Schools (India): Rajasthan launches an AI education pilot training about 1 lakh teachers across 10 districts, covering AI use, limits, cybersecurity, and online safety. Education Protests & Disruption (India): Protests over alleged NEET-UG paper leaks continue, with clashes in Delhi and renewed calls for the education minister’s resignation. School Meals Funding (Ukraine): Kyiv region receives 598.1 million hryvnias to support healthier school meals, with more funding expected from September.

Disaster Recovery: Philippines’ Education Secretary Sonny Angara joined Cabinet officials to assess earthquake and flash-flood damage to schools in Davao Occidental, pushing a fast, multi-agency plan so classes can resume. Legal Fight Over Choice: Florida’s Education Association sued the state over funding for school choice scholarships, arguing it violates the state constitution’s promise of free public schooling. Governance Shake-Up: South Africa’s Higher Education minister ordered an urgent governance assessment of MICT SETA after executive resignations and leadership concerns. Student Activism in India: In Delhi, education-reform protesters clashed with police near Parliament Street; tear gas and detentions followed as the Monsoon Session began. Higher Ed Policy Tension: Israel’s Council for Higher Education saw resignations by members protesting a law expanding gender-segregated advanced-degree studies, warning it threatens academic independence. Community Learning Through Sport: South Africa’s Khayelitsha Boxing Academy pairs boxing with homework support and mentorship to keep youth in school. Local School Updates: Minnesota reported strong reading MCA participation at Lake Middle School (8th grade) and Lakes International Language Academy Upper School (6th grade). Funding Pressure in the US: New federal student-loan restrictions tied to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” cut or cap borrowing for graduate and parent borrowers, reshaping higher-ed access.

India Protest Flashpoint: Delhi Police blocked a march to Parliament by Cockroach Janta Party supporters after Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalised during his hunger strike over exam paper leaks, with protesters still planning to defy orders. India Education Accountability: Wangchuk’s demands are shifting from calls for resignations to “assurance” and parliamentary accountability for education reforms tied to leaks. Fiji Literacy Push: More than 37,000 Year 5 and Year 7 students begin Fiji’s 2026 LANA exams, with the ministry coordinating transport support to minimise disruptions. Ghana School Reform: Ghana’s Haruna Iddrisu will outline a GH₵3bn plan to end the double-track system in senior high schools. Nigeria Reading Priority: Nigeria’s education reform debate turns to literacy, arguing reforms won’t work without rebuilding a reading culture. US Health Workforce: A US bill was reintroduced to help internationally trained health professionals overcome licensing and credentialing barriers. Tech & Safety: Belgium’s Orange launched a SaferPhone Pack for children’s first smartphone, pairing parental controls with an educational platform. World Cup Holiday: Meghalaya declared a state-wide school holiday for the FIFA final.