Indonesia's government is planning to allocate an additional budget of 306.7 trillion rupiah, equivalent to about 8% of its total approved spending this year, to fund President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program of providing free school meals to nearly 83 million people by the end of the year. The program has been a key factor in his high approval rating of nearly 81%, but financial markets have expressed concerns about the cost and potential impact on the country's fiscal prudence. To fund the program, the government plans to make spending cuts and also explore alternative funding options such as housing bonds and state-owned banks providing mortgages with longer tenors.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1970374/bigger-free-meals-budget-to-add-2-pct-points-to-indonesias-growth-presidents-adviser-saysThe Illinois Community College Board has announced an investment aimed at supporting the mental health of college students. According to a U.S. News survey, nearly 70% of college students are struggling with their mental health. The investment will provide funding to selected community colleges in Illinois this fiscal year, enabling them to better support students' needs outside of the classroom and ultimately contribute to their academic success.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20250131/news/community-colleges-to-receive-grants-to-expand-mental-health-resources/The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided over $15 million in funding to support various initiatives across the Puget Sound region. The funds have been allocated to 34 community colleges, including Bates Technical College, Bellevue College, and South Seattle College, among others, to support educational programs and projects in the area.
https://www.425business.com/news/pse-foundation-powerful-scholars-program/article_986ed4ea-e4a5-585f-8a20-da4dcffee5f4.htmlThe Indonesian government has allocated nearly Rp20 trillion (approximately US$1.23 billion) to renovate infrastructure in the education sector, including schools, toilets, and facilities for washing and clean water. This allocation is part of a broader effort to improve hygiene standards, with President Prabowo Subianto specifically instructing that hand-washing facilities be provided for children. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced this plan at an event in Tangerang, Banten, stating that the budget for school renovation will continue to increase.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/343226/govt-earmarks-rp20-trillion-for-school-infrastructure-upgrade?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightLife Science Cares San Diego, a nonprofit organization, has awarded over $1.9 million in grants to 20 San Diego-based nonprofits working to alleviate poverty and inequity. The grants will support initiatives focused on expanding access to education, basic needs, and economic opportunity for under-resourced individuals. Three new multi-year Innovation Grants were awarded to organizations such as Junior Achievement's Fellows Program, Just in Time for Foster Youth, and the SD2 Life Science Cares Program, which provide career awareness, mentorship, professional development, and paid internship opportunities to students from underrepresented communities. The grants are part of a holistic strategy to leverage the life sciences industry's financial, human, and social capital to address systemic inequities.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250130987011/en/Life-Science-Cares-San-Diego-Awards-Over-1.9-Million-to-Local-Nonprofits-at-the-Forefront-of-Alleviating-PovertyThe provincial government of Ilocos Norte has approved a resolution to accept a P300,000 donation from Mirae Asia Energy Corp., the operator of a solar project in the province, to support mathletes from Sarrat National High School who participated in the 2024 World International Mathematical Olympiad in Shenzhen, China. The donation was authorized by Provincial Board Member Saul Paulo Lazo and Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc will accept it.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/29/regions/ilocano-mathletes-to-receive-p300k-aid/2045702The New South Wales Education Department has ordered principals not to seek donations from parents for classroom supplies, citing a cost-of-living pinch. Despite this, some public schools have asked parents to buy items such as hand soap, whiteboard markers and tissues for communal use. The department's head, Angela Harrow, has warned that schools should not imply that voluntary contributions are mandatory, with the maximum allowed donation capped at $51 per primary student.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-school-that-has-asked-parents-to-pay-for-paper-20250127-p5l7kg.htmlThe Jordanian Ministry of Education and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed agreements to provide food and technical assistance for the implementation of the National School Feeding Programme in Jordan. The programme, which serves approximately 520,000 students, aims to increase enrolment rates, improve academic performance, reduce dropout rates, and promote better health and behaviour among students. Minister Azmi Mahafzah highlighted the importance of school feeding programmes, while WFP Representative Alberto Correia Mendes praised the strong partnership between the ministry and WFP in further improving this initiative.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/education-ministry-wfp-sign-agreements-support-school-feeding-programmeHBL, a bank, has published its Impact & Sustainability Report 2023, detailing its contributions to the economy, society, and environment. The report highlights the bank's allocation of funds for healthcare, education, and vocational training programs, as well as its role in disaster response and community welfare. Specifically, HBL invested Rs82 million in educational infrastructure projects benefiting nearly 18,000 students and supported skill development initiatives impacting 11,500 individuals. Additionally, the bank launched a subsidiary dedicated to agricultural extension services, disbursed over Rs100 billion to 345,000 farmers, and provided financial assistance to women entrepreneurs and small businesses, including Rs1.5 billion to 600 women entrepreneurs.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1276109-hbl-reinforces-commitment-to-sustainability-with-net-zero-goal