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Education

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Chairman of Indian national accreditation body alleges ‘questionable’ accreditation grades awarded to its institutions

Bhushan Patwardhan, the chairman of India’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), resigned in March after publicly alleging that Indian colleges and institutes were obtaining ‘questionable’ accreditation grades through malpractice. Patwardhan called for an independent inquiry into the University Grants Commission’s decision to appoint an “additional chairman without any legal authority”. Since 2013, NAAC accreditation has been a mandatory requirement for all higher education institutions in India. However, the assessment process is highly complex and accusations of corruption and inefficiency have bogged down the agency.

Five Aussie universities ban Indian students after surge in fraudulent student visa applications

Several Australian universities are cracking down on fraudulent student visa applications from India. Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, the University of Wollongong, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University are among the universities that have implemented bans on Indian students from certain states to preempt potential government restrictions. The Australian government applies ratings to countries it considers a higher risk of visa fraud, and many students from these countries have been found to work illegally after arriving in Australia. Education agencies that recruit international students in exchange for commissions have been accused of misleading conduct.

Foreign students petition UK PM to retract ‘unjust’ visa revocation order

Foreign students deliver a petition to the British PM Rishi Sunak, requesting the revocation of an “unjust” visa revocation order. The order was issued in response to a decade-old English test scandal undercovered by BBC.

Jamus Lim encourages Singaporean PMETs to seize opportunities to be posted to other ASEAN capitals

Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Seng Kang GRC, Associate Professor Jamus Lim, is proposing a network of international schools in ASEAN capitals to offer Singapore’s curriculum. Asst Prof Lim believes that such schools can reduce friction for families relocating for career opportunities, with nominal fees and levels mimicking Singapore schools. He also urged Singaporean professionals to be posted to ASEAN capitals for short stints, as international exposure is often cited as a reason for middle managers being skipped over for promotion. MOE currently provides funding to the Singapore International School in Hong Kong, with Singaporean students receiving a subsidy for their school fees.

50,000 teachers strike in New Zealand over cost of living

50,000 New Zealand teachers went on strike demanding better pay and improved working conditions, as talks with the Ministry of Education stalled. The strike forced kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools to close across the country, with trade unions arguing that the latest pay offer did not match inflation and that the education sector is at a “crisis point” due to teacher shortages. The cost of living has become a major political issue in New Zealand, with recent figures suggesting that the country’s economy is shrinking, fueling fears of a looming recession.

Dawn school trial for drowsy teens draws outcry in Indonesia

Indonesia’s Kupang has launched a pilot project to strengthen children’s discipline by starting classes at 5:30 am for twelfth-graders at 10 high schools. Parents are concerned about their children’s safety and health, stating that they arrive home exhausted and are at risk of sleep deprivation. A 2014 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended middle and high schoolers start classes at 8:30 am or later to allow enough time for sleep. Despite criticism, the government has maintained its experiment and even extended it to local education agencies.

Parents raise questions if SAEB have adequate checks on new digital marking system in light of anomalies

SINGAPORE — 11 parents wrote a forum letter to express their disappointment…

Yale-NUS merger aligns with gov’t push for interdisciplinary approach at IHLs: Chan Chun Sing

Current students and staff of Yale-NUS College were not consulted on the…

Yale-NUS merger will not have any implications on current and future partnerships: Chan Chun Sing

The merger of Yale-NUS College (YNC) and the University Scholars Programme (USP)…