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.

A student newspaper column argues that the true purpose of higher education is not career training but the willingness to abandon beliefs you arrived with. The piece frames changing your mind under new evidence as a radical, even countercultural act on campuses where students are often expected to defend fixed positions rather than question them.

Bucknell University's student newspaper, The Bucknellian, has published a piece arguing that art is inherently human, making the case that creativity and artistic expression cannot be separated from human experience. The article reflects an ongoing debate about the value of human-made art at a time when artificial intelligence can generate images, music and writing, prompting many writers and educators to defend art as a distinctly human pursuit.

The California Teachers Association has filed a lawsuit aimed at defending roughly $6 billion in education funding guaranteed under Proposition 98, the state's constitutional minimum school funding guarantee. The union says the money owed to schools is at risk, and the case puts a spotlight on California's budget battles over education spending.

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 science and higher education must prioritise dialogue over division. The piece frames open conversation across disciplines, institutions and society as essential to addressing polarisation and defending the role of universities in public life, calling on leaders in research and academia to build bridges rather than deepen splits.

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.

A new report from Defending Education ranks Tennessee and Florida as the top states for parental rights in education. The ranking evaluates state policies on parental involvement and transparency in schools. The two states have been prominent in recent debates over curriculum content, school library materials, and parents' access to information about classroom instruction.

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.

Florida has again ranked first in the Education Freedom Report Card, defending the top position for the fifth consecutive year. The ranking, published by a conservative education policy outlet, measures factors such as school choice options, transparency, and limits on ideological instruction. Supporters say the result validates the state's sweeping education reforms, while critics continue to argue the metrics reflect policy ideology more than student outcomes.

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.

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.