The number of schools where students had to resit NAPLAN tests has grown to six after some students completed exams with predictive text and spellcheck enabled, raising concerns about the exam's integrity. The NSW Education Standards Authority is reviewing its communication with schools regarding technical requirements for the test. Six schools this year have been told they must resit the tests due to security breaches, including a school in New South Wales where students used predictive text on a Mac computer.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/number-of-schools-caught-by-naplan-writing-scandal-grows-20250327-p5ln2l.htmlThe Elgin Area School District U-46 is moving forward with design work on several projects, including a new elementary school in Elgin, the conversion of Illinois Park School to an elementary building, and major renovations at Glenbrook Elementary in Streamwood and Century Oaks Elementary in Elgin. The district has closed two schools over the past couple of years and plans to close three more, reducing its total number of elementary schools from 38 to 35 by the 2026-2027 school year. Some historic schools, such as Lowrie, Washington, and McKinley, will be closed, with students reassigned to other buildings. The district is driven by declining enrollment, which has lost an average of 500 students per year due to lower birth rates, currently standing at around 34,000 students.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250330/news/u-46-breaks-ground-on-school-addition-more-spring-construction-projects-planned/DIGIPLUS Interactive has committed P100 million in 2024 to support education, disaster relief, and livelihood programs, benefiting over 120,000 Filipinos nationwide through its BingoPlus Foundation. The company launched Plus Centers across the country, offering free internet access, digital literacy training, and educational resources to underserved communities.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/01/tmt-newswire/digiplus-uplifts-communities-with-p100m-pledge-for-education-livelihood-programs/2083227Eastern Kentucky University's Big E Central is a one-stop shop for essential services, streamlining administrative tasks for students to focus on academic success. The university has seen rising enrollment, with over 100 high-demand degree programs designed to align with evolving workforce needs. EKU offers top-awarded degree programs in Psychology, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Aviation, and Occupational Science, making it a school of choice for students seeking higher education.
https://www.lanereport.com/180227/2025/03/eku-becomes-kentuckys-largest-regional-public-university/A recent survey on AI literacy among Gen Z has found that the cohort's understanding of AI has surged exponentially, with 23.8% now claiming advanced understanding. Young users prioritize four core applications: productivity enhancement, creative ideation, entertainment through virtual interactions, and social facilitation through AI-generated response recommendations. The majority (95%) integrate AI into their work or study routines, with 55.4% classified as frequent users. Notably, men are more frequent users of AI for emotional support than women, driven by the decline of traditional social connections and advancements in AI's reasoning and interaction capabilities. Over 80% of respondents have established real relationships with the help of AI, primarily through AI-generated responses that facilitate conversations. However, nearly 40% experience "AI anxiety," with concerns including the proliferation of false information, threats to privacy and data security, and job displacement fears.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soul-apps-study-exposes-the-ai-social-paradox-over-80-of-gen-z-build-real-world-ties-with-the-help-of-ai-302415446.htmlJinxin Technology Holding Company has partnered with Tencent Cloud and Sichuan Education Press to launch AI Writing Companion, an innovative product that uses AI to transform traditional paper-based writing workbooks into interactive tools for K-12 learners. The platform offers personalized writing support, AI-powered feedback, and natural language interaction, generating over $5 million in revenue in 2025. CEO Jin Xu hailed the collaboration as a milestone in smart education publishing, citing its potential to enhance learning experiences nationwide.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/namibox-and-tencent-cloud-announce-strategic-partnership-with-sichuan-education-press-to-launch-ai-powered-writing-solution-302415483.htmlPhilly Jazz Month aims to celebrate and promote the local jazz scene by providing platforms for artists and organizations to share its history. Ernest Stuart, program director of jazz at Mid Atlantic Arts, is behind the initiative, which has already allocated $30,000 to support local artists and organizations in creating jazz-inspired cultural programs throughout April. The event partners with the School District of Philadelphia to send artists to local schools to work with students and give clinics, aiming to put jazz within a cultural context relevant to them.
https://whyy.org/articles/philly-jazz-month-events-april-mid-atlantic-arts/Sonia Gandhi has criticized the BJP-led central government for unilaterally implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 without consulting state governments, alleging it centralizes control, promotes commercialization, and undermines federalism. The policy, introduced by the Centre, prioritizes political objectives over educational welfare, according to Gandhi.
https://indiatoday.in/india/story/sonia-gandhi-education-policy-nep-implementation-tamil-nadu-dmk-bjp-2701500-2025-03-31Sonia Gandhi has criticized the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accusing the Centre of pushing "centralisation, commercialisation, and communalisation" through the policy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected her claims as baseless, calling the NEP a bold and inclusive reform. Gandhi's critique comes amid opposition from some states to certain aspects of the policy, which the Centre is trying to implement uniformly across the country.
https://www.news18.com/india/nep-2020-hides-true-motives-of-government-sonia-gandhi-launches-scathing-attack-on-centre-9281483.html