AGP Executive Report

Afghanistan Education Crisis: Five years after the Taliban returned to power, UN and aid groups say the country remains in a deep humanitarian and economic bind, with Taliban restrictions blocking girls’ and women’s education beyond elementary school and limiting women’s work—while food aid shortfalls leave millions of children and pregnant/nursing women at risk of malnutrition. Taliban Diplomacy vs Rights: As more countries renew ties or open channels with the Taliban, campaigners warn that scattered engagement could weaken consistent human-rights demands, especially around bans on women’s education and employment. UAE/Regional Education & Skills: A Jordanian interview highlights Jordan’s push to align with China’s industrial and innovation priorities under its Economic Modernisation Vision—an angle that matters for education-to-jobs pathways. AI & Education Research: A Sweden-based interview spotlights computational social science work in Azerbaijan–Sweden collaboration, including research on AI in education and countering disinformation. School Access Under Pressure: In Ireland, rising diesel costs and unclear support details for school bus contractors are raising fears that transport services could be disrupted as the new academic year starts. Campus Climate: Reporting notes growing concern about antisemitism on U.S. campuses, including how universities handle Jewish students amid Israel/Gaza tensions.

Afghanistan’s Five-Year Reckoning: Five years after the Taliban returned to power, UN and aid agencies say security has improved but women’s education and work remain tightly restricted, while hunger is worsening and food aid still struggles to reach families. Taliban Diplomacy vs Rights Demands: The regime is pushing to end isolation as more countries open channels, raising fears that human-rights pressure will weaken amid “edicts and laws” banning girls’ education and limiting women’s access to jobs. Education Under Pressure in Afghanistan: A BBC report highlights how women-run skills workshops are one of the few remaining routes to training and income, but new rules are squeezing even these limited opportunities. School Transport Costs in Ireland: As schools reopen, contractors warn rising diesel prices could disrupt bus services, with uncertainty over how much government support will cover the gap. US Military Schools Curriculum Shift: The Pentagon’s schools for military families will introduce a Western civilization and Christianity course, drawing criticism from historians over how religion and history are framed. Indian Students in the US: Visa bottlenecks and policy changes are linked to a sustained drop in Indian student numbers, hitting a 29-month low. Campus Antisemitism Spotlight: A Canadian university study reports very high levels of antisemitism experiences among Jewish students, renewing calls for stronger campus action. Fuel Shock and Education Access: A shipping disruption analysis warns that Strait of Hormuz instability keeps fuel costs high, threatening education and broader development prospects across fuel-importing African economies. Friends and Health Research: A large multi-country study links strong friendships and social ties with better mental and physical well-being, a reminder for education and youth support planning.

Afghanistan Education Crisis: Five years after the Taliban returned to power, UN and WFP reporting highlights a “lost generation” as girls and women remain barred from education beyond elementary level and food aid fails to reach many families; School Transport Costs: In Ireland, school bus contractors warn that rising diesel prices and unclear support details could disrupt services as the new academic year starts; Campus Antisemitism & Student Safety: A debate over how elite universities handle antisemitism and Israel/Gaza tensions continues, with Jewish students speaking out after major campus reporting; Military-Linked Schooling Curriculum: The US Department of Defense Education Activity plans a “Western civilization and Christianity” course for schools serving military families, drawing criticism from historians and educators; Student Mobility & Visas: Palestinian students face visa rejections for Irish university placements, while separate reporting flags US visa bottlenecks contributing to a sustained drop in Indian student numbers; Youth Skills in Kuwait: talabat and AIESEC run “Next Tech Gen” to bring AI and digital skills sessions into Kuwaiti youth and university settings.

Leadership Pipeline: Exxaro partners with Stellenbosch Business School, GIBS (University of Pretoria) and Henley Business School Africa to build a future-ready leadership pipeline across mining and renewables. Tech & Youth Skills: In Kuwait, talabat’s “Next Tech Gen” with AIESEC brings university youth into hands-on sessions on AI, product, data and digital platforms. Education Finance for Families: UAE banks are letting parents split school-fee payments into interest-free instalments (with eligibility rules and fees varying by bank). Campus Antisemitism Spotlight: A Canadian university study reports 95.7% of Jewish students experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the past year, with students speaking out on what happened. Humanitarian Crisis & Children: Afghanistan marks five years under Taliban rule as hunger and a “lost generation” deepen; UN-linked reporting highlights acute child malnutrition driven by collapsing funding and access. Religious Safety in Schools/Community Life: Christians in Israel, a tiny minority, report rising harassment fears amid conflict, with calls for stronger protection. Regional Education-Linked Policy: Lebanon–Turkey ties are improving, with analysts pointing to Turkey’s growing role in stabilizing the region—an angle that can shape cross-border opportunities for students and institutions.

Kuwait Tech Education: talabat and AIESEC in Kuwait ran the latest Next Tech Gen session at talabat HQ, bringing youth delegates for talks and a behind-the-scenes office tour focused on AI, product, data and digital platforms. School Arts Access: Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado opened the 2026-27 STARS lineup, offering free PreK-12 performances for educators to request seats—aimed at inspiring and supporting classroom learning. School Nutrition Leadership: OrganicLife named Dr. Laurie Heinz, a veteran Illinois superintendent, as VP of Educational Partnerships to deepen district ties and boost student nutrition support. Gaza Childhood Loss: A report highlights how Gaza’s war is erasing a generation, noting tens of thousands of children killed or injured and restrictions even on toys. Higher Ed Governance (Gulf): India’s Supreme Court recorded CBSE’s assurance for Gulf Class XII students after petitions over the 2025-26 special assessment scheme; fresh exams are expected. Afghanistan Malnutrition: Save the Children warns acute malnutrition is worsening as funding and services collapse, with millions of young children at risk in 2026. Inclusive Learning in Qatar: Circle-In Palestine’s sports-for-social-goods program helped a 13-year-old student with speech difficulties gain confidence and join group activities. UAE Peace Through Schooling (Opinion): An opinion piece argues the Abraham Accords’ deeper lesson is that lasting peace starts in classrooms. US- Pakistan Tech Cooperation: A US diplomat said AI and digital tech are key areas for expanding ties with Pakistan, stressing collaboration across public, private and academia. Afghan Aid Funding (Policy): Another piece frames Afghanistan’s malnutrition crisis as a wider failure of survival protections as humanitarian support is dismantled.

West Bank Education & Safety: UN warns the West Bank is at a “breaking point” as settler violence and displacement hit unprecedented levels, with 1,430 incidents affecting about 260 Palestinian communities this year—an environment where schooling and child protection keep getting harder. Gulf Student Exams: India’s Supreme Court refused to interfere with CBSE’s special assessment scheme for Class XII students in Gulf countries after West Asia exam cancellations, noting CBSE assurances for fresh exams at the earliest feasible opportunity. UAE Learning & Industry Links: A UAE-focused piece argues classrooms shouldn’t be treated only as recruitment pipelines, pushing for deeper industry-academia engagement that creates “present insight” for students and institutions. Qatar Inclusion in Sports: Circle-In-Palestine’s sport-for-social-goods programme helped a 13-year-old student with speech difficulties gain confidence and belonging through inclusive coaching. AI & Digital Growth: US-Pakistan officials highlighted “considerable potential” to expand AI and digital technology ties, stressing collaboration across public, private, academia and entrepreneurs. Morocco Politics & Youth: Opposition parties attacked the government over the Ceuta border crisis, demanding an independent investigation—political pressure that can spill into education and youth policy debates. Shipping Skills & Resilience: East Africa port professionals urged training and partnerships to build resilience amid geopolitical, tech and climate shocks—skills that matter for regional education and workforce planning.

West Bank Crisis: UN officials warn the occupied West Bank is at a “breaking point” as settler violence, demolitions and displacement surge, with 1,430 incidents reported this year and hundreds of Palestinian communities affected. Campus Climate: The ADL says antisemitism is increasingly showing up inside US college classrooms and faculty networks, launching a confidential reporting channel for classroom-based bias. UAE School Health: Starkey urges UAE schools and parents to make hearing checks a standard back-to-school routine, aligning with WHO calls to integrate hearing screening into school health. Youth Skills in the Gulf: FedEx and INJAZ UAE mark six years of workshops reaching over 1,000 students across UAE schools and universities with resume, interview, financial literacy and entrepreneurship training. Egypt–Japan Education Partnership: Egypt expands Japanese-style schools, targeting 102 by September 2026, and adds Japanese supervisors to support teaching and school management. Regional Education & Research Tech: Ripple renews support for NYU Abu Dhabi’s blockchain research through 2027, backing fintech education and university-led research. Somalia Reconstruction & Skills: A commentary highlights Somalia’s shift from rebuilding infrastructure to regional integration, stressing the role of engineers and connectivity for long-term development.

UN Humanitarian Warning: UN officials say the occupied West Bank is at a “breaking point,” citing escalating settler violence, mass displacement and record casualties, with 76 Palestinians killed (including 18 children) so far in 2026. UAE Youth Skills Push: FedEx and INJAZ UAE mark six years of workshops reaching 1,088 high school and university students across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ajman with resume, interview, financial literacy and entrepreneurship training. Egypt–Japan School Partnership: Egypt’s education ministry and Japan expand “Japanese-style” schools, targeting 102 by September 2026, with Japanese supervisors supporting teaching and school management. Saudi Education Tech: Ripple renews NYU Abu Dhabi blockchain research support through 2027, backing fintech education and regional research talent. Pakistan–US Education Exchange: The US and Pakistan sign a five-year agreement to expand higher-education exchange, including Fulbright, supporting student access to US universities and collaboration on research and public health. Somalia Infrastructure & Skills: A Somali engineers’ leader argues reconstruction is shifting toward regional integration, linking infrastructure quality to long-term development and poverty reduction.

UAE Youth Empowerment: On International Youth Day, the UAE highlighted programmes that build future-ready skills, including the “National Readiness Programme – Ghatareef” for Emirati secondary graduates and the “Sustainability Ambassadors” track under Masdar’s Youth 4 Sustainability. Education Exchange (US–Pakistan): The US and Pakistan signed a five-year education exchange deal expanding Fulbright and other higher-education links, supporting student and scholar mobility and research collaboration. Cambridge Results (Pakistan): Cambridge International released June 2026 AS & A Level results to Pakistan, with over 100,000 students across 850+ schools; the series was disrupted by a leaked Mathematics paper that was cancelled and rescheduled. Qatar Digital Library (Islamic Science in Classrooms): Qatar National Library said it is digitising Islamic-world scientific heritage and making manuscripts accessible remotely via the Qatar Digital Library partnership with the British Library. Gaza Child Protection: UNICEF renewed warnings that children continue to be killed in Gaza despite ceasefire announcements, underscoring the education and protection crisis for students. Saudi Education Tech (Identity Security): BIO-key and Maktabi Tech announced a partnership to advance passwordless identity security across Saudi Arabia’s education sector.

US–Pakistan Education Ties: The US and Pakistan signed a five-year education exchange deal, expanding Fulbright and other higher-education links, with thousands of students and scholars expected to benefit. Qatar’s Classroom Access to Islamic Science: Qatar National Library is digitising Islamic-world scientific heritage and partnering with the British Library to bring manuscripts into classrooms and for remote research. UAE Youth Empowerment: Abu Dhabi expanded youth programmes tied to sustainability, digital skills and readiness for school-to-career transitions, including a national readiness initiative for Emirati secondary graduates. Cambridge Exam Growth: Cambridge International reported rising AS & A Level entries, with strong momentum across Southeast Asia as more students choose flexible, skills-linked qualifications. Afghanistan Humanitarian Alarm: UN OCHA warned that underfunded crises are worsening in Afghanistan as climate shocks, hunger, displacement and dwindling aid collide. Saudi Women’s Progress: A feature highlights how Saudi women are advancing across sectors under Vision 2030, focusing on the human stories behind policy change. Education Tech Expansion: Edubex Learning says it’s expanding globally with AI-enabled learning and partnerships with international universities, aiming to widen access to accredited qualifications. University Reform Debate: A commentary argues that constant restructuring in universities can backfire, stressing continuous quality improvement over change for its own sake. Gaza Child Protection: UNICEF reports children continue to be killed in Gaza despite ceasefire claims, renewing calls for education and protection.

Education & Youth Skills: FedEx and INJAZ UAE marked six years of work with 1,088 high school and university students across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ajman, using workshops on resumes, interviews, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Nuclear Science Education: Saudi Arabia hosted the International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah, bringing 120 students and experts from 19 countries; it follows recent approval steps for a nuclear reactor and highlights training in nuclear physics and radiation protection. EdTech Expansion: Edubex Learning says it’s expanding globally with AI-enabled learning, international university partnerships and 200+ career programmes, reaching Africa, the UK and the Middle East. Gaza Child Protection: UNICEF reports children are still being killed in Gaza despite ceasefire claims, warning the humanitarian crisis is failing to protect minors. School Funding Pressure (UK): A UK analysis warns independent schools face long-term financial strain from costs, borrowing, demographics and reduced enrolment, with VAT on fees adding pressure. Policy & Rights in Schools (US): A case study describes a student’s racial harassment at a Michigan middle school and a complaint to the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.

Education & AI Skills: Britain’s Norland is rebranding as Norland University of Early Childhood, betting that human care roles will stay “AI-proof” as automation reshapes graduate jobs. Private School Costs: UK independent schools face mounting pressure as VAT on fees adds to falling pupil numbers and weaker international recruitment, raising solvency and governance worries. Nuclear Education: Saudi Arabia hosted the International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah, bringing 120 students from 19 countries and spotlighting nuclear science pathways shortly after reactor progress. Gaza Child Protection: UNICEF says Gaza’s ceasefire has failed to protect children, reporting at least 300 child deaths in 300 days and urging parties to turn agreements into real safeguards, including education and healthcare access. Campus Rights Settlements: The University of Virginia agreed with the US DOJ to suspend remaining civil-rights investigations, joining five other major universities in settlements tied to antisemitism and DEI-related probes. Identity & Learning Tech: Saudi education-sector partners BIO-key and Maktabi Tech are advancing passwordless identity security, aiming to modernize student access systems. Regional Water & Learning Context: Egypt’s week focused on Nile water-year preparations and diplomacy—key for stability that underpins schooling and humanitarian planning.

Gaza Ceasefire Fallout: UNICEF says at least 300 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza in the 300 days since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement—about one child per day—while hundreds more are injured and medical services are overwhelmed. School Safety & Rights: A Michigan case highlights how racial harassment can derail learning, with a family filing a complaint to the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights after slurs and abuse at Chesaning Middle School. DEI Education Debate (UK): Britain’s first undergraduate “woke politics” degree in Politics, Sexuality and Gender at Brighton University is being slammed as “gobbledegook,” even as it markets careers in equality, diversity and inclusion. School District Accountability (US): Allegations against LAUSD leader Alberto Carvalho include removing GPS tracking and bypassing district cyber safeguards to use Telegram, raising questions about oversight in education leadership. Regional Education & Youth: Saudi Arabia topped the International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah, with students winning multiple medals and a “Nuclear Science Ambassador” title—another push to build advanced science talent. Family Policy (Singapore): Singapore announced a “major review” of support for families across life stages, including child-raising costs, affordable infant care, and childcare. Regional Security & Cooperation: Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan affirmed a NATO-style mutual defense pact, with Egypt said to be a possible future participant—an issue that can shape regional stability affecting schooling and youth futures.

Gaza Child Safety Alarm: UNICEF says at least 300 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza in the 300 days since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement—about one child a day—urging parties to turn ceasefire plans into real protection, including access to healthcare and education. Regional Education Under Strain: UNICEF also warns that hundreds more children are injured and hospitals are overwhelmed, with families facing severe access limits that threaten schooling and basic services. Saudi Science Talent: Saudi Arabia topped the International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah, with students winning medals and the “Nuclear Science Ambassador” title, highlighting investment in advanced STEM education. Skills for Industry: In Pune, Envalior opened an EV Technology Centre of Excellence at MM Polytechnic, aiming to train about 250 students annually with NSDC-certified EV service, safety and diagnostics programmes. Local Governance & Jobs: South Africa’s industrial strategy debate centers on beneficiation rules and infrastructure backlogs, with education and workforce development likely to be affected by how the plan is implemented.

Gaza Child Protection Crisis: UNICEF says at least 300 children have been killed in Gaza in the 300 days since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement—about one child a day—while hundreds more are injured and hospitals struggle, urging parties to turn ceasefire talks into real protection, aid access, and safe schooling. Education & Skills Pipeline: Envalior opened an EV Centre of Excellence at MM Polytechnic in Pune under CSR, training about 250 students annually with NSDC-certified EV service, safety, diagnostics and hands-on lab work. Student Innovation Spotlight: Team Vegapod Hyperloop (MIT World Peace University) won an Emerging Engineering Talent award and placed 7th worldwide at European Hyperloop Week 2026 in Groningen, showing growing regional participation in advanced engineering competitions. Labour Mobility & Workforces: A report highlights how African countries like Ghana are building bilateral labour pathways to supply nurses and educators to the Caribbean, while Sierra Leone lags in similar mobility routes. Learning Under Conflict: A Gaza-focused commentary argues that “ceasefire” credibility must be measured by whether children can live, get healthcare and return to school—not by political wording.

Gaza Child Deaths: UNICEF says at least 300 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza in the 300 days since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement, averaging one child death per day and warning hospitals and aid access remain overwhelmed. Ceasefire Accountability: A separate UNICEF framing stresses that a ceasefire only counts if killings stop, hospitals reopen, water flows, and children can return to school safely. Syria Reconstruction: Türkiye is moving fast to position itself as a key strategic partner in Syria’s reconstruction, linking border stability to investment, diplomacy, and longer-term regional influence. Turkey Kurdish Negotiations: Türkiye submitted a bill that would defer prison sentences for PKK-linked figures in exchange for liquidation of the party’s armed wing, with critics warning about legal loopholes and limited scope. Education & Skills (EV Training): Envalior opened an EV Technology Centre of Excellence at MM Polytechnic in Pune, aiming to train about 250 students annually with NSDC-certified EV service, safety, and diagnostics programmes. AI in Education: A roundtable at the University of the Witwatersrand discussed ethical, inclusive AI adoption in education across Africa and the wider Middle East and Africa region.