Defending Education

South African officials have held talks with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai focused on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. The discussion comes as Afghan women continue to face severe restrictions on education, work and public life under Taliban rule. The talks signal growing international diplomatic attention to the issue, with activists pressing governments to keep pressure on the Taliban and defend Afghan women's access to schooling.

University World News argues that even as artificial intelligence reshapes teaching, research and administration, higher education must continue to prioritise human connection between staff and students. The piece stresses that mentoring, trust and interpersonal relationships remain central to learning and cannot be replaced by automated tools, whatever efficiency gains AI brings to the sector.

University World News argues that higher education institutions should stand together and lean on civil society, particularly as universities face mounting political and financial pressure. The piece suggests collective action and partnerships beyond academia can help defend institutional independence and the public role of universities at a time when academic freedom is under strain in several countries.

In Italy, debate over the 'piano educativo individualizzato' (PEI), the individualised education plan for students with disabilities, is resurfacing as the government pushes its schools decree. L Bufanini of Orizzonte Scuola argued that anyone serious about cutting school bureaucracy should target paperwork rather than scrapping the PEI, defending its role in guaranteeing tailored support.

Defending Education has launched the Rankings on Integrity in State Education (RISE), a new tool aimed at helping public schools by scoring states on integrity in their education systems. The initiative ranks states on measures of transparency and honesty in public schooling, and is drawing attention from education watchers assessing how their states compare.

The US Education Department is asking its grant recipients to justify how federal education funds are being spent, under a 'defend the spend' directive. The policy signals tighter scrutiny of grantee budgets and program costs. Education sector outlets are flagging the move, which could increase reporting burdens for school districts and organizations relying on federal grants.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has claimed the state has 'the best schools in America,' prompting a fact-check by the New Haven Register. The verification examines whether that superlative holds up against available education data and rankings. The claim matters for state politics and education policy debates, as governors frequently cite school performance to defend funding levels and promote the state's appeal to families and employers.

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of an art teacher in Columbus. The sentencing closes a case that has drawn attention locally, with residents following proceedings over the killing of an educator. Details about the defendant's identity, the circumstances of the killing, and any statements from the victim's family have not been disclosed in available reports.

The advocacy group Stand Up for Science is organizing a rally bringing together scientists and academic leaders to oppose the Trump administration's policies affecting higher education and research funding. Organizers say the event aims to unite researchers, university officials and students in defending academic freedom and federal science support. The announcement has drawn attention amid ongoing disputes over funding cuts and government pressure on universities.