The Union Education Ministry reported that over 22.7 lakh learners took part in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test, held across 10 states and union territories in India. The test aimed to assess the basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills of neo-literates, with volunteer teachers from schools and colleges assisting with teaching-learning activities.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/over-22-lakh-learners-took-foundational-literacy-numeracy-assessment-test-union-education-ministry/In Haripur, Pakistan, 35 students from government girls schools were awarded the Satori da Pakhtunkhwa scholarship by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The ceremony was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Anam Latif and District Officer Education Shagufta Jabeen. The students achieved A-1 grades in their grade 10 exams, with over 30 of them being nominated for the first time from Haripur schools. The provincial government will cover their education expenses for two years.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268437-girl-students-of-govt-schools-honouredThousands of over-60s are taking out millions in student loans, which experts fear will not be repaid due to low incomes. According to freedom of information data, 4,648 individuals have taken out loans since 2019, with most universities charging around £9,250 per year for a three-year course. The repayments are calculated based on income above £25,000, but many elderly students' pension income is not included in this calculation, making it unlikely they will pay back the loan. Liz Emerson of the Intergenerational Foundation notes that while older students should have access to education, there is a cost to younger taxpayers if repayment terms remain the same for all ages.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14248421/Thousands-60s-taking-millions-student-loans.htmlFederal Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that the PML-N government prioritizes its economic agenda and aims to maintain stability in the country, avoiding political disruptions. He emphasized the importance of dialogue between parties, citing the success of previous initiatives such as eliminating terrorism from Pakistan with the help of Allah. The minister also highlighted the government's efforts to expand skill training programs, allocating Rs 20 billion for education and vocational training, with a focus on international certification to enhance employability. He expressed hope that Afghanistan would prevent its land from being used for terrorism in Pakistan, acknowledging the sacrifices made by Pakistani people for the benefit of their Afghan neighbors.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40341116/ahsan-says-govt-believes-in-its-economic-agendaAKBAYAN, a party-list group, has criticized the recently signed national budget for 2025, stating that it prioritizes elite interests over the welfare of the Filipino people. The General Appropriations Act (GAA) allocates funds in a way that is deemed misallocative by AKBAYAN, with significant cuts to education, health, transportation, agriculture, and climate action programs. This has raised concerns about the constitutionality of the budget and its alignment with the public good, particularly given that education is a constitutional priority.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/05/news/national/akbayan-natl-budget-has-misallocations/2030310The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has been investigating a bribery case involving the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The ACB court is handling the case. In other news, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Sericulture Fair in Gorakhpur. Meanwhile, the Union Education Ministry reported that over 22 lakh learners took the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-supervisor-arrested-for-taking-bribe-of-rs-20000-demanded-rs-3-lakh-for-permanent-job-a522/Chandigarh University has been awarded as the university with the best placements by the World Council for Curriculum and Research (WCRC). The university's website is https://www.cuchd.in. This achievement highlights the institution's success in providing its students with job opportunities, indicating a strong industry-academia partnership.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/business/chandigarh-university-becomes-first-indian-private-university-to-win-maka-trophy/The NSW Education Department is concerned that commercial coaching colleges are undermining school teaching and exacerbating inequality in the education system by providing expensive tutoring services to HSC students, including those who scored top marks in maths last year. Private coaching colleges claim to have taught hundreds of high-achievers, with one college stating it had coached almost a quarter of students who achieved top marks in the toughest maths course. A teacher at a Sydney selective public high school estimated that 80% of its students receive private coaching, highlighting the growing trend of students seeking external help to achieve academic success.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hsc-coaching-devalues-selective-schools-as-one-college-claims-quarter-of-top-maths-marks-20250103-p5l1vb.htmlDanish Lukawski, founder of creative agency Danamic, expressed concern over the impact of poor adult literacy on his industry, citing its effects on media professionals' ability to critically analyze content and discern credible sources from misinformation. He noted that literacy challenges can lead to miscommunication and misinformed decision-making in projects, causing chaos when different teams have varying versions of a campaign or concept. Child literacy specialist Janet Law emphasized the importance of reading for expanding one's understanding of the world beyond personal experiences, allowing individuals to see different perspectives through various forms of media such as novels, articles, and stories about people who have faced similar challenges.
https://channelnewsasia.com/today/big-read/literacy-skills-singapore-adults-decline-4834326