AGP Executive Report

US-Israel-Iran Rift: Trump warned Netanyahu he could “find himself fighting alone” if Israel resumes full-scale war with Iran, as Israel and Iran traded strikes again and talks over a wider ceasefire (including Lebanon) stayed fragile. Regional Security & Deterrence: Analysts say the renewed exchange reflects dissatisfaction on both sides, with Hezbollah’s role and Iran’s deterrence strategy complicating any “peace” framework. Education in Conflict: A report alleges Israeli higher education collaborates with the military via dozens of study programs that blend academics and training for roles from cyber to intelligence—raising fresh questions about scholasticide and institutional accountability. Gaza Child Support: With Israeli backing, “Academies of Hope” expands support for Gazan children through Gaza Children’s Village’s network, including plans for a large “Educational City.” UAE Language Learning: Zayed University hosted the 2026 Chinese Bridge UAE finals, bringing hundreds of students to compete in Mandarin and intercultural assessments. Libya Training for Energy Skills: Libya’s NOC signed an MoU with PMI to build project-management training and certifications for energy-sector capacity. UK Settlements Sanctions: The UK announced sanctions targeting extremist West Bank settler entities and individuals, citing violence and illegal settlement activity. Public Health Alert: Ebola in eastern Congo rose to 100 deaths across 550 cases, with testing and contact tracing still under strain. Afghanistan Women’s Rights: Taliban forces dispersed a Herat protest over hijab rules, with witnesses alleging shots fired and injuries. Saudi Skills Pipeline: Alinma Bank launched a 12-week “Future Bankers Program” with Kaplan Professional MENA to train Riyadh talent in AI, cybersecurity, and digital banking.

Education in Conflict: Palestine’s Ministry of Education says at least 21,701 students and education staff have been killed since Oct 7, 2023, with Gaza’s schools and university buildings heavily destroyed and West Bank universities repeatedly raided. Humanitarian Access: Gaza’s Health Ministry accuses Israel of blocking more than 16,500 Palestinians from medical treatment abroad, citing restricted border days and delays even during a nominal ceasefire. Regional Security & Learning Disruption: Israel says schools will reopen June 9 after a one-day closure tied to Iranian missile attacks, while Lebanon’s Tyre sees families fleeing to beaches after evacuation warnings. STEM & Youth Skills: Türkiye’s T3 Foundation wins Europe’s Bright Spark science communication award for hands-on tech production via TEKNOFEST and DENEYAP Makers Labs. Higher Ed Recognition: Malaysia’s higher education ministry says it will resolve recognition issues for four students affected by Alexandria University’s pharmacy-to-PharmD name change. AI & Education Exchange: Egypt’s Fulbright Regional Alumni Conference highlights AI for education, innovation, and entrepreneurship across MENA. Supply Chains for Kids: UNICEF warns Middle East conflict disruptions are raising logistics costs and slowing delivery of lifesaving supplies for children worldwide.

Afghanistan Education Crisis: The UN says 3.8 million Afghan girls (ages 7–18) are out of school as Taliban restrictions bar secondary and higher education, with about 250,000 more girls permanently excluded each year. Gaza Border Staffing Boost: Israel is offering grants up to NIS 72,000 to new teachers and psychologists in the Tekuma region to strengthen schools and build local education leadership through 2028. Qatar Foundation & Arabic-Linked Learning: Daam will fund Qatar Foundation’s Rasekh pre-university initiative, aiming to align international education with Arabic language, identity, values, and localised curricula. Education Tech & AI Skills: People of Data and Egyptologist Zahi Hawass launch an “Egypt Eternal Voices” AI video program with training and a $10,000 prize pool. Regional Education Under Pressure: The Gaza border grant and Afghanistan’s school ban highlight how conflict and policy directly shape who can learn, and who can’t. Middle East Conflict Backdrop: Iran and Israel have paused direct strikes amid ongoing warnings, keeping schools and daily life in the region on edge.

Israel–Iran Ceasefire Friction: Israel and Iran traded strikes again after a two-month ceasefire, then both said they paused—while warning retaliation if provoked—raising fresh fears of a wider regional war. Home Front & School Disruptions: Israel’s Home Front Command adjusted activity levels in northern communities and the education ministry suspended studies and postponed exams, with a push to return to protected in-person learning. Health & Youth Smoking: Israel’s 2025 smoking report to the Knesset flags rising teen e-cigarette use and high exposure to secondhand smoke, including among Arab students. Education Under Pressure: The renewed escalation also triggered nationwide school shutdowns and exam delays, showing how conflict quickly reshapes learning schedules. World Cup as Memory: Iran’s World Cup team arrived in Mexico wearing “#168” pins honoring victims of a school strike in Minab, keeping the war’s human toll visible in sports spaces. Heritage at Risk: Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly damaged the Tyre archaeological site, prompting calls for protection of cultural heritage. Morocco Discovery: Archaeologists reported a precisely dated medieval game board carved in a hammam at Walila, adding new insight into early Islamic North African social life.

West Asia Security Disruption: Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire in the most serious escalation since a ceasefire began, with Home Front Command restrictions including school closures and cancelled exams, while schools in Israel were shut nationwide and education activities halted. Student Mobility Under Strain: Iran’s World Cup team arrived in Mexico’s Tijuana as Tehran criticized U.S. visa delays affecting players and support staff, underscoring how conflict and paperwork can derail student-athletes and training plans. Qatar Education Quality & Identity: Qatar Foundation launched the Rasekh accreditation framework for international schools, aiming to blend global standards with Arabic language and cultural roots, and a separate Islamic Cultural Center school lecture programme reached about 3,200 students across 22 schools. Egypt Skills for Export Jobs: Egypt expanded digital talent training for university students through ITIDA and NTI, targeting 10,000 learners with tracks from AI and cybersecurity to freelancing to support offshoring services exports. Vocational Education in Türkiye: Türkiye’s gastronomy high schools added “mother recipes” to curricula, with a national competition drawing 1,221 students to strengthen vocational education and cultural heritage. Regional Education Access: ESOGÜ’s Zoology Museum reopened after relocation and renovation, with regular educational visits planned in cooperation with the provincial education directorate.

Israel-Iran Escalation and School Closures: Iran launched multiple missile waves toward Israel, with interceptions reported; Israel’s Home Front Command ordered nationwide restrictions and closed all schools and educational activities, while officials warned of further waves. Lebanon Crossfire: Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs after Hezbollah fire, and Iran warned of “crushing” retaliation if attacks continue, keeping the education sector on alert amid repeated strikes. Campus and Community Impact: In central Israel, a Palestinian man with Israeli citizenship carried out a shooting spree, prompting lockdowns and heightened security around schools. Education Policy and Partnerships: Qatar Foundation launched the “Rasekh” accreditation framework to align international schooling with Arabic language and local values; Egypt and Croatia discussed cooperation on technical-vocational training, curriculum modernization, and scholarships. Sports Media and Learning: beIN SPORTS unveiled trilingual World Cup 2026 coverage plans across MENA, with up to 17 hours daily of live studio programming. Human Rights Under Pressure: Reports say Iran is using the war as cover for increased executions and repression, raising concerns for students and civil society.

Education & Youth Under Strain: Iranian students protested exam changes, with arrests reported, as World Cup excitement fades under war and hardship. Humanitarian & School Safety: Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon continued to hit civilians, including reports of children killed, while Lebanon’s army chief traveled for mediation amid renewed violence. Regional Security & Learning Environments: The 100th day of the Iran war brought fresh drone and missile incidents around the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of longer disruptions that can spill into schooling via higher costs and travel delays. Policy & Access: The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) may slow passport control at Schengen borders, affecting student and family travel routes that include Türkiye, Egypt, and Israel. Learning & Skills Development: A Pakistan interior minister visit to Tehran signals ongoing diplomacy, while in education news India’s National Forensic Sciences University expanded its research-and-training model with international campus plans.

Palestinian Education & Memory: Qatar’s National Library launched the second cycle of “Keys to Palestine,” a community digital project preserving Palestinian lived experience through photography, film, oral history and student-made work from the Arab American University in Palestine. Scholarship Access: Kuwait’s Higher Education Ministry wrapped up its “Wajhni” guide campaign, drawing 5,322 visitors and promising ongoing support during overseas scholarship applications, including a July help center and orientation for accepted students. Exam Administration: India’s UGC-NET June 2026 schedule was released by NTA, with CBT exams running June 22–30 in two daily shifts across a wide range of subjects. School Creativity in Oman: Oman’s Ministry of Education concluded the second School Creativity Award in Muscat, with 163 schools participating and winners selected across primary and secondary categories for boys and girls. Aid to Students in Afghanistan: WFP said fortified biscuits reached Afghanistan after a 15,000 km detour through nine countries, with delivery planned for 172,000 schoolchildren. Violence Impacting Families: In the West Bank, a seven-month-old baby was killed and parents wounded after Israeli forces fired on a vehicle near Hebron; the incident is under review.

West Bank Violence: Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces shot and killed 7-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal near Hebron; his father, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, and his mother were also wounded. Education Under Fire: The same week, reports describe an Israeli lawmaker attempting to cut into an Arab school fence during class hours, sparking condemnation from Palestinian leaders and officials. Higher Ed & Academic Freedom: Florida’s education crackdown is intensifying, with critics saying state rules are purging general education content and threatening faculty through post-tenure reviews. Health & Fertility Research: Hebrew University researchers link chronic oral inflammation to impaired female fertility, pointing to a possible immune-driven pathway affecting egg quality. Energy & School Life: Iraq’s blackouts and generator reliance are pushing families toward solar plans, with teachers describing how war-related gas cuts accelerated the shift. Iran’s Postwar Economy: Iran is preparing for a difficult transition from wartime unity, with hyperinflation, power cuts, and dissent shaping debate over the country’s next direction. Lebanon Humanitarian Impact: Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly hit civilian areas, an ambulance, and a school, killing six.

Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon: The UN has more than doubled its Lebanon aid appeal to nearly $640m for six months as Israel’s war with Hezbollah drives mass displacement, deaths and damage to housing and basic services. Ceasefire Doubts: Despite US-brokered ceasefire talk, fighting and strikes continue, with analysts warning the deal is fragile and Hezbollah’s core demands remain unresolved. Iran War’s Regional Shockwaves: Coverage highlights Iran’s missile/drone campaign and Strait of Hormuz disruption risks, with knock-on effects for energy security and prices. Education Under Pressure (Gaza): A Gaza ice-cream shop run by university students says it’s keeping classes alive amid siege conditions—small business as a lifeline for higher education. Campus Safety & Rights: Reports include arrests of Birzeit University students and concerns about investigations and impunity in Turkey, alongside broader debates on antisemitism and campus protections. Bangladesh–Türkiye Ties: Foreign ministers pledge deeper strategic cooperation, trade and possible free-trade talks, with education and tech among the areas discussed. Saudi Waqf Model: A Saudi business leader argues waqf endowments can fund sustainable development, including education and healthcare.

Egypt Education Reform: Egypt reports major gains in school attendance, rising from 15% to 87%, alongside smaller class sizes and improved literacy after curriculum and assessment changes. Arabic AI Learning: Foras.AI invests in Efham.ai to launch an Arabic, colloquial AI learning community across 15+ Middle East markets, aiming to make AI education more accessible. Higher Education Rankings: Iran’s Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Iran University of Medical Sciences climb in QS Subject Rankings 2026, with strong results in pharmacy, life sciences and medicine. Microcredentials & Jobs: A Coursera study finds microcredentials boost job alignment and early performance, with employers more willing to offer higher starting salaries. Lebanon Humanitarian Strain: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon face renewed displacement and worsening conditions as Israeli strikes continue, deepening poverty and restrictions. Kuwait Solidarity: Kuwait expresses sympathy for an airport worker who lost a leg in an Iranian attack, as the wider regional conflict escalates. Teacher Strike Ends (Turkey): A 123-day strike at Istanbul’s Italian high school ends after an agreement improves working conditions and standardizes workloads. Campus Safety (UK): A Saudi student is arrested after a crossbow attack injures a university security guard at the University of Surrey.

Right to Education Under Occupation: Israeli forces abducted four Birzeit University female students at dawn, renewing concerns about raids, dorm insecurity, and administrative detention that disrupt Palestinian students’ access to education. Syrian Exams: Syria began the 2026 Basic Education and Sharia Preparatory Certificate exams across provinces, with hundreds of thousands of candidates and heavy security measures, including reported highway blockades near Suwayda. Palestinian Athletes Targeted: The Palestinian Football Association denounced the arrest of women’s national team player Rand Halauani and former player Natalie Abú Dayé, calling it systematic persecution that pressures Palestinian youth and sport. Northern Israel Education-Life Disruption: As Hezbollah rocket and drone fire continues, families in Israel’s north describe daily life under alerts and uncertainty, with schools and communities affected by repeated strikes. Cultural Loss: Iranian-French author Marjane Satrapi, creator of “Persepolis,” died at 56, with tributes highlighting her role in bringing Iranian life and women’s experiences to global readers. Education Leadership Legacy: A profile spotlighted Seymour Fox’s impact on modern Jewish education, including the Melton Centre and the Jerusalem Fellows leadership program.

US-Iran Pressure on Finance: The Trump administration sanctioned Iran’s largest digital asset exchange, Nobitex, plus three others, accusing them of helping evade sanctions and support the regime. US War Powers Clash: The U.S. House approved a war powers resolution to halt military action against Iran, defying Trump, though the next steps remain uncertain. Israel-Lebanon Politics: A Reuters poll says Netanyahu’s support is falling fastest in northern Israel, where voters want a tougher stance as Hezbollah rocket fire continues. Kuwait Airport Attack: Kuwaitis reacted with anger after an Iranian strike hit Kuwait International Airport, damaging the terminal and killing at least one. Education Reform Under Strain: Africa’s English education reforms face headwinds from English teacher shortages and a widening digital skills gap, with delegates meeting at Zetech University in Kenya. Teacher/Community Learning Model: Spokane’s Barton English School expanded from tutoring into a free, community-centered hub offering language groups, workshops, and childcare for about 80 students a month. Campus Safety & Hate Crime: An NYU student was charged after allegedly flying a hate-symbol flag during commencement, as universities face renewed scrutiny over antisemitism and campus speech. Gaza Reconstruction Debate: A new Gaza “roadmap” is criticized for treating reconstruction as leverage tied to strict conditions, including security and governance changes.

Education & AI in Israel: Amal Educational Network is rolling out “Pedagogical AI” to train teachers to use AI for deeper learning ahead of matriculation exams, shifting classrooms toward mentoring and reflection. School Funding Pressures (Gulf/Region): Saudi Arabia is preparing for a return to classrooms with 6.5 million students heading back just 12 days before exams, as education budgets face wider regional strain. Budget Cuts (North Africa/US): Richmond School Board in Virginia approved new cuts to close a $4M deficit, including closing Richmond Virtual Academy and reducing educator hourly rates. Student Safety & Conflict: Israeli forces detained Palestinian women’s national football players Rand Halawani and Natalie Abu Dayeh, with Birzeit University condemning the arrests as targeting education. Diplomacy & Tensions: US and Iran exchanged missile and drone strikes, keeping a fragile ceasefire in doubt; Iran’s Araghchi framed strikes as “self-defense” in the Persian Gulf. Reading & Learning (MENA): Morocco’s National Reading Programme honored winners across students, university students, and teachers, tying reading to World Book Capital momentum. Policy & Access: Odisha (India) ordered faster issuance of caste certificates for students to avoid delays in admissions. Campus & Rights: NYU student arrested for raising a swastika-and-Star-of-David flag during graduation week, charged as a hate crime.

AI & Higher Education: WISE (Qatar Foundation) and partners at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Northwestern University Qatar and Siren Associates hosted a Doha policy dialogue on “AI, Disinformation, and Higher Education,” anchored in a study urging universities to strengthen information literacy, understand how students and faculty use AI, and address language-model blind spots. Iran Student Mobility: Iranian PhD students say US policy memorandum PM-602-0192 has left them in limbo by pausing key benefits and adding extra vetting for “high-risk” nationalities, delaying work authorization and post-graduation status changes. Saudi School Resumption: Saudi Arabia’s public schools brought 6.5 million students back for the second semester after Eid al-Adha, with final exams and summer vacation dates set by region. Lebanon Education Disruption: Beirut’s southern suburbs faced renewed displacement and school evacuations after Israeli threats, leaving families in a cycle of anxiety over repeated warnings. Qatar Education Research: The WISE-led discussion framed AI-driven disinformation as a higher-ed policy challenge, pushing for longer-term resilience-building across campuses. Saudi Education Planning: Egypt’s ministry unveiled its FY 2026/27 economic and social development plan, including investment targets and a focus on human development—context for education funding priorities.

Higher Education Leadership: Canada’s University of Victoria (UVic) named Rhonda McEwen—currently president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University at the University of Toronto—as its first female and first Black president, starting Oct. 14 for a five-year term. K-12 Infrastructure & Access: In Bukidnon, Philippines, Valencia City Central School is preparing for the June 8 school opening amid chronic classroom shortages and recurring flooding, with teachers and volunteers repairing aging rooms during Brigada Eskwela. Education Investment Boom: Qatar’s education sector is projected to nearly double to about $13.22bn by 2034, driven by K-12 private growth, higher education expansion, vocational training, and edtech. School Meals Policy Abroad: Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency is studying a pilot to expand its free nutritious meals program to Saudi Arabia, starting with the Indonesian School in Jeddah, despite rising scrutiny at home. Education Under Conflict: Lebanon and Gaza-related reports highlight school disruption after Israeli strikes, including postponements of university exams following student deaths.