Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to collaborate with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to enhance government efficiency and transparency. He emphasized equipping Pakistan's workforce with internationally-recognized skills as a priority, following Fitch's recent upgrade of the country's investment rating. ACCA's global CEO Helen Brand led a seven-member delegation discussing ways to boost Pakistan's workforce competitiveness globally, citing 13,000 Pakistani members contributing to various sectors and 40,000 students pursuing membership.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358015/pm-urges-increased-collaboration-with-accaPakistani Minister MD PBM briefed on various welfare initiatives. Over five years, scholarships worth Rs 970 million were awarded to over 32,000 students. More than 475,000 women received vocational training through 165 women empowerment centres. The minister also discussed plans for surprise monthly visits to welfare institutions, modern training courses for trainers, and digitisation of projects to improve transparency.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358068/pbm-contributes-rs154bn-against-life-threatening-diseases-in-5-yearsFelipe Jimenez, a sixth-grade student from Tennessee, is among hundreds of children protesting legislation that could undermine the US constitutional right to free public education for all children, regardless of immigration status. The landmark 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe protected this right, but conservative leaders like those at The Heritage Foundation are pushing states to overturn it. Tennessee's Republican lawmakers are advancing legislation that directly contradicts the ruling, sparking a potential legal battle and concern among students like Jimenez who fear their education could be taken away due to immigration status.
https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-immigration-students-73e446fc2e12299d49c94ce4101b4884The University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman, M Jagadesh Kumar, has requested universities to allow students to write examinations in local languages. This comes as the Akshaya Tritiya, a significant festival for gold purchases, is underway. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi police have moved court to seize properties of an ex-army man known for anti-military posts. In other news, CanAm Enterprises' Rural Broadband EB-5 Project aims to expand internet connectivity in Virginia. A trailer for the movie 'Afwaah' showcases Bhumi and Nawaz's characters on the run.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/politics/ugc-chairman-requests-universities-to-allow-students-write-examinations-in-local-languages/The US government's decentralized approach to funding research allows universities to pursue answers independently, with the federal government providing about 90% of $59.6 billion in research spending in 2023. Johns Hopkins received the largest share, $3.3 billion, while Harvard and other institutions like the University of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, and UC San Diego also exceeded $1 billion each. However, the Trump administration's moves to close agencies and impose changes on campuses threaten this system, potentially harming academic freedom and leaving schools with less money for financial aid and research.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-harvard-research-universities-stanford-794eb7f35e55df48be5d03c9e18e383eThe University of NSW will end its trimester system in 2028, replacing it with traditional semesters, following feedback from 5000 students who preferred to engage deeply in subjects and have more time for part-time work, internships, and extracurricular activities. Vice Chancellor Attila Brungs stated that the decision is not about financial gain, but rather providing a better student experience. The change comes after criticism of the trimester model in 2019, which was seen as a money-making exercise by students.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/not-about-the-money-unsw-dumps-controversial-trimesters-20250414-p5lroe.htmlThe US Department of Education has amended a court declaration to clarify that spousal income will not affect student loan payments for married borrowers filing separate tax returns or separated from their spouses. The change means some borrowers may see lower monthly payments, as family size is part of the calculation determining payment amounts under income-driven repayment plans. The move comes after a lawsuit filed in March against the Trump Department of Education, which sought to reopen access to income-driven repayment systems that were previously taken down. Applications for these systems are expected to resume by May 10, 2025.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/education/education-department-clarifies-upcoming-changes-to-income-driven-loan-repaymentA lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan on behalf of Chinmay Deore, Xiangyun Bu, and Qiuyi Yang claims that their student immigration status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated without sufficient notice and explanation. Chinmay Deore, a 21-year-old computer science undergraduate at Wayne State University, had his F-1 student status terminated due to an alleged criminal record check, despite having no prior convictions or charges. The lawsuit alleges that the university's decision has put their education, research, and career trajectories at risk, including losing a job they held under their F-1 status and facing the risk of detention and deportation if removed from the US.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/who-is-chinmay-deore-student-who-filed-lawsuit-against-possible-deportation-8183898#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstoriesWest Australian students with dyscalculia, a mathematical version of dyslexia, are at risk of falling through the cracks as schools struggle to identify and address their difficulties. A survey found that only 12% of year 4 students excelled in maths, increasing slightly to 13% by year 8. Experts warn that persistent and enduring difficulties can be easily overlooked, leading to a "vicious cycle" of underachievement. Mandy Nayton, chief-executive of the SPELD Foundation, emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction with support and feedback to boost confidence in maths, particularly in understanding numerosity.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-students-with-maths-dyslexia-fall-through-the-cracks-as-crisis-worsens-20250414-p5lrkj.html