President Donald Trump's administration is planning to dismantle the US Department of Education, according to a report. This move aligns with one of Trump's campaign promises and has sparked concerns among educators and lawmakers. The plan reportedly involves dismantling the department, which was established in 1979 to oversee education policy at the federal level.
https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/trump-education-executive-order-doge-department-elon-musk-funding-congress-public-district-diversity-politicsThe American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against a school in the Eastern District of Michigan, alleging that its ban on certain activities is unconstitutional. The ACLU, joined by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, claims that the bans infringe upon students' First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/02/04/students-sue-University-Michigan/9931738658319/The British Columbia government has made school police liaison officers mandatory across the province, citing concerns about student safety. However, a review of the decision by Commissioner Govender found that there is a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of police presence in schools and potential harm to students, particularly Indigenous or people of colour. The former board of the SD61 school district had previously banned police from their schools due to reports of students and teachers feeling unsafe around officers. A lone trustee has been appointed to oversee the district until municipal elections in 2026, while Commissioner Govender calls for more research into the impact of police in schools to inform an evidence-based policy.
https://thestar.com/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-human-rights-commissioner-wants-study-of-police-in-schools-after-boards-firing/article_5d149987-c991-563d-b722-1f9bcbe73b3b.htmlAccording to the 2025 Human Progress Report, younger generations such as Gen Z and Millennials are more focused on improving their digital literacy skills compared to older generations like Gen X. The report found that six in ten individuals are interested in earning credentials for in-demand skills including technical expertise, AI and digital literacy, creativity, and communication. Employers and employees are aligned on the value of skills-based credentials as a pathway to opportunity and success, with 40% of Gen X professionals prioritizing improving their technical skills. The report highlights that the pace of progress remains uneven, despite gains in education access, career growth, and skill development.
https://www.ndtv.com/education/ai-literacy-identified-as-top-skill-for-competitiveness-in-job-market-report-7635043#pfrom=home-ndtv_mainnavigationThe U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County has implications for the rights of LGBTQ students, but a Trump administration official has stated that the reinstated Title IX rules do not protect against discrimination based on sex stereotypes. However, schools that fail to protect these rights could face lawsuits and civil rights complaints, particularly in 26 states with their own civil rights processes. The landscape for education civil rights complaints may change as a result of the executive order on "discriminatory equity ideology", which asks schools to follow existing anti-discrimination laws. For example, a school that groups students by race or limits discipline for certain racial groups could face a federal civil rights investigation.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/03/trump-orders-on-dei-and-vouchers-seek-to-increase-his-power-over-schools/In a July 2024 campaign email, Donald Trump outlined his education priorities, which included cutting funding for schools promoting "critical race theory," launching civil rights investigations into alleged discrimination against Asian Americans in schools, and implementing a new teacher certification system that prioritizes educators who uphold patriotic values. He also vowed to identify and remove individuals deemed radical from the Department of Education.
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/white-house-preparing-executive-order-abolish-department-education/3491146/Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced plans to improve special education centers and systems in the province. She highlighted the establishment of Pakistan's first government autism school in Lahore, which will provide free treatment for children with autism and reduce financial burdens on parents. The chief minister also noted that 10 autism units have been established in various special educational institutions in Punjab, and provision of assistive devices such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, and walkers has begun. Additionally, a project to upgrade 28 special education schools to Centers of Excellence is underway, and a special curriculum for special education children up to class 5 has been prepared. The chief minister also announced plans to introduce specific skills courses for special students, hold a job fair in collaboration with private institutions, and develop a School Information System to raise the standard of special education in the province.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1279010-maryam-introduces-projects-for-special-children-s-welfareThe Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued a regulation, POJK 34/2024, to improve the quality of human resources in the financial services sector. The regulation requires insurance companies, guarantee institutions, and pension funds to provide education and training funds for their employees, with a minimum allocation of 3.5% of total employee expenses per year. This provision aims to support business sustainability and competitiveness in the industry, as stated by M. Ismail Riyadi, Acting Head of the Literacy, Financial Inclusion and Communication Department of OJK. The regulation also emphasizes the importance of providing funds for improving work competencies or developing other technical and non-technical skills.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1970796/ojk-issues-hr-quality-development-rules-insurance-companies-must-provide-education-and-training-fundsThe Indian government is working towards creating a greener economy, but experts say that education systems need to be integrated with green skills development at every level to equip current and future workers to thrive in this new economic landscape. The World Bank has found that primary school curricula, mid-career reskilling and upskilling programs should all incorporate green skills training to prepare the workforce for a cleaner growth model.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/indias-green-economy-needs-green-skilling-at-every-level-wb-1858733