AGP Executive Report

Higher Education Reform: South Africa’s Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has published additional draft BELA Regulations for public comment, including guidance on school governing body elections. Student Finance Accountability: Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela welcomed the Public Protector’s report on NSFAS, pointing to long-running governance and operational inefficiencies and the need to keep stabilising the scheme. University-to-Work Link: In Kenya, University of Nairobi innovation leaders urged entrepreneurship training that goes beyond theory, pushing practical business mentorship, financing and industry networks to turn graduates into job creators. Campus Tensions: Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students resisted a residence eviction deadline after unrest, with management and student leaders expected to meet to resolve the standoff. Skills for Jobs: UNDP urged Tanzanian universities to commercialise research into products and services that create jobs, not just publish papers. Education Policy Partnerships: Finland, South Africa’s DBE and DHET reaffirmed cooperation on foundational learning, literacy, numeracy and teacher support. Youth Migration Crisis: In Ceuta, Spain, Moroccan minors remain in limbo after mass arrivals, with NGOs warning care systems are overwhelmed. Learning Support in Zimbabwe: Chinese automaker Jetour held a school charity event in Harare, donating stationery and learning materials to Kuwadzana 1 Primary School.

NSFAS Accountability: South Africa’s Public Protector says more than 40,000 students across 76 institutions were improperly funded by NSFAS, costing R5.1bn, and is urging the Higher Education, Finance and SARS to fix the benchmarking model. University Disruption: Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has suspended all academic activities and ordered students to vacate residences after protests and campus shutdowns. School Funding Court Fight: Three Makhanda schools have taken the Eastern Cape education department to court over years of underfunding below the national per-pupil target. Youth Employability Bursaries: InnoVent’s bursary programme is pushing beyond tuition support toward employability outcomes as youth unemployment and skills mismatch remain major pressures. Student Safety & Rights: A South African private school, St Stithians, says it won’t fuel speculation as police investigate the deaths of two teenagers. Regional School Sports: Zimbabwe is ready to host the Cossasa Games in Bulawayo (Aug 31–Sep 2), while Kenya’s schools lead FEASSA rugby and hockey semi-final races in Tanzania. School Meals Impact: Kenya’s Food4Education founder Wawira Njiru wins the German Africa Prize for scaling school feeding to 660,000 children across 1,900 schools.

Voter Education Push (Nigeria): INEC says Nigeria’s registered voters will top 100 million for the 2027 elections and is rolling out an aggressive communication and inclusivity roadmap with 151 days to the first phase. Flood Risk Planning (Ghana): University of Ghana leadership calls for a more integrated flood-management approach, linking safety, evacuation and mental health, and urging better coordination beyond overstretched disaster agencies. Higher Ed Rankings (Nigeria/South Africa): Webometrics’ July 2026 results put University of Ibadan first in Nigeria and show no Nigerian university in Africa’s top 10, while South Africa dominates the continental list. Campus Safety (South Africa): CPUT shuts all campuses and orders evacuation of student residences after an arson attack, citing escalating violence. Student Support Funding (South Africa): NSFAS “missing middle” learners face delays after R3bn was redirected, following Public Protector findings on systemic failures. WASH for Learning (Ghana): A WASH project delivers rainwater harvesting and toilet facilities to Mafi Afleavenu D.A. Primary School to improve health and attendance. Girls’ Schooling (Senegal): Senegal’s Mariama Ba School of Excellence highlights progress on keeping girls in school, with fully funded boarding and a 100% completion rate.

WAEC WASSCE Scrutiny: Schools and education advocates are questioning the credibility of WAEC’s 2026 results, alleging grading errors, CBT glitches and unexplained low scores for students who reportedly performed strongly in JAMB, with calls for transparency and independent review. Teacher Care System Strain (South Africa): A new look at school support shows an “erosion of the care system” as teachers, social workers and NGOs struggle; 49% of teachers say they want to leave the profession within a decade, rising to 57% in no-fee schools. DRC Ebola Warning: Coverage flags the DRC outbreak’s rapid death toll and spread across provinces, stressing how weak preparedness can let infections move faster than response systems. Senegal Girls’ Education: A profile highlights how an elite boarding school on Goree Island is helping Senegalese girls challenge patriarchal norms and improve completion rates beyond primary school. Higher Ed Funding Debate (South Africa): Commentary and reporting focus on NSFAS and broader higher education funding drama, with pressure on government to fix governance and delivery. SADC Integration Push: Ramaphosa urges SADC leaders to turn border-to-bridge integration into jobs and infrastructure, not just summits. Private Universities Funding (Nigeria): Baze University’s vice-chancellor calls for stronger government support for private universities, arguing they need TETFund-style backing to sustain quality. SADC Essay Win (Eswatini): An Eswatini student wins the 2026 SADC tertiary essay competition, taking home US$2,000 at the SADC summit.

Kenya-China Education & Industry: A Kenya-China vocational education partnership is being framed as a youth jobs and industrialisation lever, as political tensions around Chinese firms also intensify ahead of elections. Fisheries & Food Security: New research warns illegal commercial fishing keeps draining coastal economies, with West Africa flagged as a major source of illicit seafood. Health in Schools & Communities: South Africa’s Health Ministry has procured ultra-portable digital X-ray machines to speed early asbestos detection in remote, mine-affected areas. Learning in Mother Tongue: South Africa’s CambriLearn will extend Afrikaans-medium schooling to Grade 12 from 2027, aiming to protect learners’ progression into the National Senior Certificate. Governance & Trade Law: Namibia and constitutional lawyers launch a book linking constitutionalism to sustainable development and AfCFTA implementation. Student Wellbeing & Access: UNICEF warns Iran-war fuel-price shocks could push millions more children out of school across Asia and Africa. Sports & Youth Talent: Kenya’s Cardinal Otunga and Ng’iya Girls advance at FEASSA Games in Morogoro, while Kiprono wins FEASSA cross-country gold. Ghana Blue Economy: Ghana begins work on a Blue Economy Commission bill to set a coordinated legal framework for marine growth and jobs.

University Infrastructure Watch: Liberia’s University of Liberia faces long-running facility decay—repairs and routine maintenance are lagging despite reported US$6.3m renovation funding, raising alarms about safe learning conditions. Higher Education Funding: South Africa warns NSFAS faces a R15bn shortfall as demand grows faster than government money, threatening “free higher education” for hundreds of thousands of students. STEM Career Pipeline: SANSA marks nearly two decades since its founding by urging young people into space careers, from technical roles to postgraduate bursaries, including a school mascot design competition. Education Under Conflict Pressure: The Iran war is pushing families to choose between schooling and survival as fuel prices rise, with UNICEF warning millions more children could fall into poverty, including a large share in Africa. Student Support & Welfare: South Africa’s SASSA Children’s Grants are highlighted as a continent-leading cash-transfer system reaching over 13 million beneficiaries monthly. Learning for Resilience: A South Africa-to-Zimbabwe conference series on climate-resilient, smart, sustainable futures spotlights universities as problem-solvers for real community needs. Girls in Innovation: Nigeria’s Visiola Foundation ends an Abuja STEM summer camp for 100 teen girls with renewable-energy prototypes, including an automated SmartFarm concept. Academic Labour Rights: Abia State University lecturers’ strike draws attention to pay gaps and delayed salaries, with calls for fairer conditions for educators.

Higher Ed Jobs Push: Kenya’s education cabinet secretary urged universities to commercialise research—turning lab work into products, services and enterprises that create jobs and solve development problems. Child Protection Vetting: South Africa’s Basic Education departments face a court-backed deadline to screen all public school employees against the National Child Protection Register by March 2027, after a long-delayed response to a caretaker rape case. Forensic Training Hub: Uganda’s National Forensic Sciences University campus in Jinja is positioning the country as a regional centre for forensic science, cyber security and related training, with postgraduate programmes for both professionals and the public. Catholic Values at Home: Uganda’s Kasana-Luwero bishop backed a parish initiative giving parents materials to strengthen children’s Catholic values and faith formation at home. Cross-Border Trade Education: Ghana’s Ketu North MCE urged ECOWAS to sustain public education on the free movement protocol so border communities understand rights and responsibilities. Youth Employment Outlook: A new report projects Africa’s youth jobs will shift from agriculture to services, with services overtaking farming as the biggest employer by 2033.

Robotics & Precision Farming: A Nigerian robotics student in Ghana built a precision agriculture system that collects farm data and transmits it remotely, showing how embedded tech can solve real farming challenges. Local Developmental Governance: South Africa’s municipal elections debate is shifting toward what municipalities should do next—turning local government into an engine for investment, jobs and economic transformation. Migration & Education Pressure in Southern Africa: South Africa is pushing SADC to sign and ratify a stalled free-movement protocol, while xenophobia and immigration tensions keep spilling into public services, including education. School Closures Warning: An Eastern Cape education closure controversy highlights how shutting schools over low learner numbers can damage communities—arguing support should come before closures. Voter Process & Civic Education: Nigeria’s Osun election observers report accreditation issues at a polling unit, underscoring the need for clear voter education and procedure compliance. Cross-Border Security: Morocco arrests 111 people trying to reach Spain’s Ceuta after tightened border security and calls for another mass crossing. Sports as Learning: FEASSA hockey action in Tanzania and Malawi’s Wafcon success spotlight how school sport and youth pathways build confidence and opportunity.

East Africa School Sports: Cardinal Otunga Senior School Mosocho moved closer to the FEASSA rugby 7s title after beating Butula Boys 17-14 and Uganda’s Mbarara High 17-15 in Morogoro, Tanzania. They can clinch the crown by winning their last two matches against Busoga College and Makerere College on Monday. North Africa Migration & School-Age Disruption: Moroccan police arrested 111 people trying to enter Ceuta, using tear gas near the Fnideq border area as tensions rise after the deadly 30 July crossing. Youth Leadership & Civic Education: International Youth Day 2026 brought 100+ young political and civic leaders together in Liberia (and online) to discuss “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” with speakers urging youth to take responsibility for shaping democracy. Education Access & Funding Pressure: Reports highlight that free higher education in South Africa faces strain as NSFAS shortfalls reach R15bn, putting tertiary access at risk. School Re-entry & Student Safety: A Cosmo City Secondary School principal faced backlash after allegedly refusing a learner’s return post-initiation, sparking a filmed confrontation.

Higher Education & Research: Zimbabwe’s University of Zimbabwe capped 7,132 graduates and highlighted its “Heritage-Based Education 5.0” push, with 75 registered start-ups (60 student-led) and 53% female graduates. University Governance & Academic Integrity: A Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, was found dead in London amid a plagiarism scandal and a university investigation into his hiring and tenure. University Labour Tensions: Nigeria’s ASUU issued a fresh strike threat, accusing the federal government of failing to honour the 2025 university pact, including withheld salaries and promotion arrears. Student Welfare & Funding: Nigerian BEA scholarship students abroad demanded payment of outstanding 2025 stipends, warning arrears could get harder to clear after September 30 budget closures. Policy & Inclusion: South Africa’s Ramaphosa condemned discrimination against foreign nationals ahead of the SADC summit, urging action on root causes of migration and warning against “exclusion in our streets.” Curriculum Reform: Kenya’s Kithure Kindiki urged stronger arts and sports integration in the CBET curriculum to nurture talent and values. STEM & Innovation: Malawi-China partnership launched a new AI school at the University of Hebron. School Sports: St Anthony’s Kitale targets a strong start in FEASSA hockey as they chase a record seventh title.

SADC Integration vs. Exclusion: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the bloc’s migration and integration agenda is undermined when anti-immigrant sentiment shows up on local streets, urging a coordinated regional response ahead of the SADC summit. Conflict-Zone Education Financing: West African education groups (CSEA and partners) called for stronger government ownership, innovative financing, and cross-country collaboration to tackle the education crisis facing children in emergency and conflict-affected areas. WAEC WASSCE Dispute: Nigeria’s school excellence group threatened legal action against WAEC over alleged irregularities in 2026 computer-based WASSCE results, demanding record preservation and a way for candidates to challenge outcomes. Youth Leadership & Learning: International Youth Day events in Liberia brought together young political and civic leaders to push “common aspirations” through participation and representation. School Safety & Trust: In the U.S., Cheltenham families face a tense new school year after locker-room assault charges, with parents demanding a clear plan for student morale. Back-to-School Community Support: A community welcome-back day at John Muir High School in Pasadena aims to rebuild confidence through volunteers and local leaders.

Women in Research Gap: South Africa’s Women’s Month spotlighted a wider problem: women are “missing” in African research, with only 33.5% of African women in research, despite women making up over 51% of the population. Youth, Jobs and Security: An African Youth Survey 2026 finds 56% of young Africans want job creation prioritised to improve security, with unemployment and poverty seen as top threats. Regional Migration: Experts say the SADC migration crisis can’t be solved by South Africa alone; migration needs regional governance, not fragmented national rules. TVET Leadership: Ghana’s Tsonam Akpeloo appointed Chairman of the Applied Technology Institute governing board, aiming to strengthen TVET governance and industry-relevant skills. School Infrastructure Funding: South Africa’s Kirstenbosch worries resurfaced as SANBI faces an R839m infrastructure backlog by 2029/30. STEM Learning in Action: A STEM camp in Tanzania added new hands-on projects and disciplines, putting learning tools directly into students’ hands. Clean Air Partnerships: Ghana’s KNUST-hosted West Africa Centre for Clean Air (WACCA) seeks regional partnerships as clean-air funding declines. Education and Equity Debate: A South Africa op-ed pushes back on claims the education system has “collapsed,” arguing growth in population since 1994 must be part of the assessment.

Girls’ Education Push: South Sudan launched the Africa Educate Her campaign in Juba to keep girls in school, boost retention and completion, and build on a reported 10% rise in girls’ enrolment tied to free education. Cybersecurity & Safety: New data show African organisations faced 3,237 cyber attacks per week in July, with ransomware surging and GenAI exposure rising—while South Africa’s courts backed stronger child-protection checks for school staff against the National Child Protection Register. Higher Education & Innovation: Morocco unveiled a 10-year science research strategy to strengthen university-led innovation; Tunisia’s Manouba University is embedding sustainability across disciplines; Ethiopia plans an AI university for top talent. Science Diplomacy: A course in Italy highlighted why Africa must connect science, diplomacy and policymaking to shape global decisions. Jobs & Health Systems: South Africa’s unemployment climbed to 33.6%, and unions warned unemployed doctors could ease public healthcare strain. Water Security: South Africa’s deputy minister said the country won’t run out of water by 2030, though local deficits are already hitting communities. Youth & Governance: Burundi marked the 20-year African Youth Charter anniversary, pressing for real youth participation in laws, budgets and institutions.

Higher Education Finance: Experts warn some universities could go bust before 2026 freshers finish degrees as bankruptcies, mergers and course closures loom amid falling overseas student numbers and tighter fee rules. Youth Jobs & Skills: MTN launched an AI-powered Job Board on its MTN Skills Academy to match learners to vacancies and recommend courses to close skills gaps across 11 markets. SME Growth: South Africa’s dtic, Standard Bank, MTN and DHL rolled out DHL GoTrade support to help Sub-Saharan SMEs scale, access markets and adopt digital tools, with €300m pledged to 2030. Learning & Labour-Market Link: A push for “learning markets” argues Africa needs pathways that connect education directly to real jobs, not just more schooling. Holocaust Education in Africa: Kenyan physician Dr. Emma Nalianya is teaching Holocaust and medical ethics from an African perspective through a voluntary online course now reaching thousands of health professionals. Culture & Learning: The Pan African Film Festival brought Congo peace laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege’s story to Austin, using film to spark conversations on wartime sexual violence. Food Security Tech: Bühler highlights how food processing innovation and training in Southern Africa are strengthening resilient regional food systems.

BECE Grading Row: Ghana’s private schools accuse WAEC of a discriminatory “MAFIA” marking scheme after the 2026 BECE results, while WAEC denies bias and the debate shifts to whether the grading system still serves both certification and placement well. Youth Skills Push: The African Union marks International Youth Day by calling youth empowerment a “continental imperative,” urging real action from governments, institutions and the private sector through education and skills. Education Leadership Shake-up (South Africa): North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi reshuffles the executive council, appointing Desbo Mohono as the new MEC for Education and moving other portfolios. Power for Learning (Central African Republic): Abu Dhabi’s GSU inaugurates a 50MW solar plant in the Central African Republic, boosting electricity access for hundreds of thousands of households—an indirect win for schools and services. Back-to-School Support: The Heights Foundation’s outreach equips 500+ students with backpacks and grade-appropriate supplies. School Safety & Exams: Separate coverage flags ongoing concerns around school safety and exam-related fairness, as education systems brace for a new term.

Language Policy Debate (South Africa Higher Ed): A new paper questions the 2020 higher-education language policy, warning that teaching in indigenous languages may face cognitive and conceptual limits, plus economic competitiveness risks in an English-dominated global economy. TVET Digital Push (Nigeria): UNESCO, Nigeria’s education regulators and stakeholders validated a strategy for digital transformation of TVET, stressing tech must translate into jobs and skills for a changing labour market. Safe Schools Under Fire (Nigeria): Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar says insecurity is shutting classrooms in about 40 local government areas despite the N144.86bn Safe Schools fund, arguing budgeting isn’t the same as protecting pupils. Higher Education Funding Model (Gambia): Gambia plans a study tour of Nigeria’s TETFund to support its own tertiary trust fund, aiming to strengthen research and capacity building. STEM Scholarships (Kenya): Technical University of Mombasa opened five AfDB-backed fully funded master’s scholarships in STEM for eligible Kenyan graduates under 30. Sports & School Pathways (East Africa): Kenya’s schools head to FEASSA games in Tanzania with hopes of ending long medal droughts in football, netball and hockey. Social Protection Lens (South Africa): A commentary argues SASSA grants are a bridge to opportunity, citing how small relief support helped one woman expand into businesses including a pre-school and daycare.