↗️ Students Catching Up, 🌍 Climate Initiative Launch, 🏫 Record School Shootings & More!
SmartEdu News 2023-09-28
🇺🇸 U.S. EDUCATION
Is This the Year Students Finally Catch Up From the Pandemic? Educators Think So
Educators are hopeful that students can catch up academically after pandemic-related setbacks, but there are challenges ahead. Federal COVID-19 relief funds are expiring, there are difficulties in hiring and retaining staff, and students are facing mental health issues. A survey shows that 70% of educators are confident students will catch up, but concerns remain. Many students started the last school year behind grade level, but some progress has been made.
Safety Dilemma: Arming Teachers in Schools – What the Numbers Say
The RAND Corporation conducted a survey on arming teachers in schools, revealing that 54% of teachers believe it would make schools less safe, while 20% think it would enhance safety, and 26% see no significant impact. Teacher demographics, like race and school location, influence these opinions. Approximately 550,000 out of 3 million K–12 teachers might choose to carry firearms if allowed. School shootings in 2022 raised concerns, making this a pressing issue. The survey underscores the complexity of the topic and calls for comprehensive strategies that balance teacher, student, and community concerns to enhance school safety.
School Shootings Hit All-Time High for Second Year in a Row
The U.S. experienced a record number of school shootings during the 2021-22 school year, with 188 incidents causing casualties, including 57 deaths. This marks the second consecutive year of record-high casualty-involved shootings in American schools, more than double the previous figure. The data is from the National Center for Education Statistics' annual crime and safety report, and while it's advised to interpret pandemic-related data cautiously, it still shows a significant increase in certain types of school shootings even in post-pandemic years. These findings come amid historically high levels of gun violence in the U.S., with over 30,000 gun-related deaths reported so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Students at 50 U.S. High Schools Launch Climate Initiative
Students from over 50 high schools across the United States are advocating for a "Green New Deal for Schools." They are demanding that their school districts incorporate climate justice education, create pathways to green jobs after graduation, and establish plans for climate disasters
Over 30 new LGBTQ Education Laws Are in Effect as Students go Back to School
Seventeen U.S. states have enacted over 30 new LGBTQ-related education laws, which will take effect in the 2023-24 school year unless legally challenged. These laws encompass various restrictions, including limitations on discussing LGBTQ topics in schools, bans on transgender student athletes participating in sports teams aligned with their gender identities, restrictions on using preferred pronouns for transgender students, regulations regarding restroom facilities for transgender individuals, and constraints on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education. These laws have sparked nationwide debates surrounding LGBTQ rights and representation in the education system.
🌎 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Spain Has Among the EU's Highest Number of Young People Out of Work and Education
In Spain, 17% of the population is neither studying nor working, which is higher than the OECD average of 15%. This issue primarily stems from a combination of factors, including a high dropout rate from school, with Spain having the second-highest number of early school leavers in the EU. Additionally, Spain faces a significant problem of youth unemployment, making it the leader in youth joblessness. One notable aspect is that among the "ninis" (those not studying nor working), Spain has more young people actively seeking employment but struggling to find it, rather than simply being inactive.
UNESCO Report on AI in Education Recommends 13 Years as Minimun Age
A UNESCO report highlights that schools worldwide are unprepared for the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in education and recommends governments regulate GenAI in the classroom. It suggests imposing an age limit on the technology, given its potential impact on critical thinking and creativity.
New School Year Starts in Europe: Lessons in Life
As European schools resume, challenges include schools in France damaged by riots, Polish teachers demanding higher pay and investment, and Serbia addressing student anxiety in the curriculum following a tragic shooting incident. These issues reflect the complex realities facing schools across Europe.
At Least 20 Students Abducted in a New Attack by Gunmen Targeting Schools in Northern Nigeria
Gunmen kidnapped at least 20 students in northwestern Nigeria in an attack targeting their school near the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara state's Bungudu district. The exact number of abducted students remains unconfirmed, but local reports suggest 24, with most victims being female students. Such school abductions have been common in northern Nigeria, though the frequency had reduced over the past year.
Thousands of Teachers Protest in Nepal Against Education Bill, Shutting Schools Across the Country
Millions of students in Nepal faced school closures as teachers protested in Kathmandu against an education reform bill. With teachers opposing provisions in the School Education Bill that would transfer control of government-run schools to local authorities, potentially diminishing their status and eliminating temporary teaching positions. Demonstrations disrupted traffic in the capital, with police in riot gear blocking access to parliament to maintain order during the protests. Teachers' groups are in negotiations with government leaders seeking changes to the legislation.