A heat wave in the Philippines led to widespread suspensions of in-person classes, affecting over 2.8 million students, as temperatures soared to record highs, including a 38.8°C reading in Manila on April 27 last year. Local governments took precautions, with education officials citing concerns about the impact on the school year and the need for alternative learning models, such as online classes. The heat wave was part of a global trend, with extreme weather disrupting schooling for 242 million children in 85 countries, including the Philippines, where temperatures briefly surpassed the critical 1.5°C warming threshold.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/593484-heat-wave-shuts-down-schools-in-nearly-half-philippine-capitalFederal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination and Prime Minister's Advisor Rana Sanaullah Khan and Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora attended an event where they discussed initiatives to protect the rights of minority communities in Pakistan. Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's leadership has led to various schemes, including health, education, and employment support, as envisioned by PML-N leader Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The Punjab government's Minority Cards initiative aims to provide identification and safeguard rights for the community, with nearly 8,000 individuals in Faisalabad district set to receive cards. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken steps to reduce inflation and launched an e-learning program for minority children, which will be supported by provincial assembly members.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40350930/minority-card-distributed-in-faisalabadPunjab, home to over 110 million people, is facing a severe education crisis with 10.96 million school-aged children out of schools, including 4 million at the primary level. The province's planned Rs673 billion education budget for the coming year will only see 10% allocated towards development projects, while salaries and operational costs take up the majority. Experts warn that inaction could perpetuate low literacy and limited opportunities, citing unequal resource distribution as a key factor. A new policy paper suggests a five-point strategy to address these challenges, including increasing funding, upgrading infrastructure, addressing teacher shortages and quality, targeting dropouts and enrollment, and overhauling the curriculum. The proposal draws inspiration from successful education models in India, Bangladesh, Finland, and Singapore, and aims to strengthen Punjab's socioeconomic development by preparing a workforce that is literate and skilled.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1288148-punjab-s-education-crisis-10-96m-children-out-of-schoolsA private school in Bushey, Hertfordshire, St Hilda's Prep School for Girls, is facing closure due to the introduction of a 20% VAT on fees by Labour's government. The school, which charges £17,272 annually, is expected to lose £165,000 this year and £235,000 next year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves' tax plan aims to raise £1.8bn a year by 2029-30 to fund new teachers and improve school standards. Suella Braverman, a former student of the school, has criticized the plan, saying it will force another good school to close, placing unsustainable pressure on state schools and harming every child's education.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14453213/Suella-Bravermans-former-private-school-faces-closure-Labours-VAT-raid-fees.htmlNew school plans for St Leonards and Chatswood have been put on hold due to changing enrollment demands, despite thousands of new homes being built in the area under transport-oriented rezoning reforms. The NSW government had initially planned to build a new primary school at St Leonards but now believes there is no "urgent need" for it. Instead, eight new schools will be built by 2027, mostly in outer north and south-west suburbs where private schools have attracted many families, putting pressure on public schools.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/new-homes-without-new-schools-is-shooting-planning-in-the-foot-20250303-p5lgh8.htmlThe UK's Information Commissioner's Office is investigating TikTok for its handling of teenagers' personal information to deliver content recommendations. The regulator, John Edwards, expressed concerns about the platform's safety procedures, particularly in preventing exposure to harmful or addictive content and ensuring children are not harmed by unhealthy practices.
https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-children-data-protection-uk-investigation-cbb967830539d83b8bb60772a4c2ccb5The UK's Information Commissioner's Office is investigating Reddit, Imgur, and ByteDance (TikTok) over their handling of child user data. The ICO previously fined TikTok £12.7 million for using children under 13 without parental consent in 2023. Reddit plans to comply with UK regulations by implementing age assurance updates this year. Britain has introduced new legislation requiring social media platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content and filter out or downgrade such material through algorithms.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/03/03/uk-watchdog-investigates-tiktok-reddit-and-imgur-to-guard-childrens-personal-data-amid-concern-over-harmful-social-media-content/168520The UK's Information Commissioner's Office is investigating TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over their handling of personal information from minors. The watchdog aims to determine if these platforms comply with British laws requiring them to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate content. Britain has previously passed legislation mandating social media platforms to filter out harmful material and enforce age limits.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/uk-watchdog-cracks-down-on-tiktok-reddit-over-childrens-privacy-concerns-13868149.htmlIn the UK, local authorities can fine parents up to £160 if their children miss five days of school without approved reasons. The harshest penalties include £2,500 fines or three-month prison sentences for repeatedly truant children. Secondary schools in Trafford, Greater Manchester, had the best attendance with 1.3% unauthorised absences, followed by Wokingham (1.4%) and Sutton (1.5%). A recent poll found nearly one-third of parents argued about school attendance weekly, citing a need for more flexible rules.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14433587/truancy-England-worst-secondary-school-attendance.html