AGP Executive Report

Police Capacity & Safety: A University of Pretoria professor says South Africa’s 187,000 police officers don’t translate into frontline crime-fighting, estimating only about 25,000 operational officers (and possibly far fewer) are actually available at any time. Student Funding Pressure: NSFAS opened 2027 applications, but warns of funding shortfalls that could grow from about R15bn to R33bn by 2029, pushing students to apply early with complete documents. School Violence: KwaZulu-Natal reported two pupils killed and three seriously injured in a shooting on their way to school, with the education department calling for urgent action and psychosocial support. Climate & Health Risk: “Super” El Niño could drive up to 451,000 excess deaths globally by Feb 2027, with Nigeria and the Sahel among the hardest hit—raising stakes for school attendance and child health. Maps & Education: The UN backed a push to use a more accurate Africa map projection (Equal Earth) in schools and public life, challenging distortions from the Mercator view. El Niño Hunger in Uganda: Save the Children warns acute malnutrition in Uganda’s Karamoja could rise 25% by Oct 2026 as dry spells worsen food insecurity. AI Governance: Ghana says it will regulate AI risks without stifling innovation, focusing on harms in high-stakes uses while supporting responsible experimentation by students. Gender & Inclusion: A new UN-backed push highlights the need for fairer representation and safer learning environments as Africa grapples with violence, inequality, and climate shocks.

Teacher Qualification Shock: The UK has removed Nigeria and Ghana-trained teachers from applying for Qualified Teacher Status in England, citing issues with work-history references using public email accounts. WASH Accountability: BudgIT reports 13 Kano WASH projects worth ₦23.68bn (2025) hadn’t started, with some completed toilets and boreholes locked up and unusable. University Response to Xenophobia: UNISA condemns xenophobic violence and calls for solidarity with African migrants. Public Health Training Boost: WHO handed ICT and media equipment worth GHS 258,000 to the University of Ghana’s School of Public Health to strengthen teaching and emergency preparedness. Girls’ Legal Education: Amal Clooney’s Clooney Foundation for Justice launches a Malawi scholarship for 30 young women to study law, starting with 10 this year. Climate Displacement Warning: ECOWAS warns climate change and insecurity could push West Africa’s internally displaced people to nearly 32m by 2050. Water and Climate Resilience: South Africa launches ReLISA, a €15m, five-year landscape restoration programme targeting grasslands, savannas and thickets.

Women, Peace & Security in Liberia: Liberia launched its third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security at UNGA81, aiming to move commitments into measurable action across protection, participation and accountability. Education Disruption from Water Crisis: In Beitbridge, a major pumping-line breakdown has left the town without running water, forcing some schools to suspend classes from ECD to Grade 5. Jobs and Wages via AfCFTA: Zimbabwe’s tripartite forum in Victoria Falls stressed that AfCFTA must deliver decent work, better pay and finance for productive sectors. Digital Credentials Push: Nigeria plans full digital authentication and verification of academic certificates, while Ethiopia expands its National Digital ID program to more countries. Private School Admissions Pressure (Nigeria): OPSAN urged Nigeria to pause 2026/27 admissions until all O’Level results are released, warning that students relying on NECO/NABTEB are being shut out. School Safety Incident: In Zimbabwe, 26 students were injured after Africanised bees attacked during lunch at Port Mourant Secondary School, renewing calls for safer playfields. El Niño Threat to Learning: South Africa braces for a very strong El Niño, with risks to agriculture and disaster management that could also hit school attendance and food security.

Higher Ed Partnerships: Excelsior University signed its first international partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Virtual University (UVCI), creating a pathway for UVCI graduates to earn an MBA. Classroom Tech Debate: Sweden is rolling back heavy touchscreen use, returning to paper and limiting devices after concerns that more tech didn’t improve learning outcomes—an issue South Africa is watching closely. Trade Finance for Education-Linked Growth: Afreximbank and ATDC agreed a $500m facility to boost trade and distribution across Africa, supporting AfCFTA implementation and industrialisation. Digital Learning & Integrity: A Sierra Leone-focused piece argues AI is already in universities, shifting the debate to how to use it without harming academic integrity and critical thinking. Child Protection & Justice: A Scottish survivor says he was abused by a paedophile teacher as a child and is pushing for accountability across courts. Gender-Based Violence: South Africa’s Ekurhuleni killings highlight gaps between GBV commitments and women’s lived safety. Community Learning Support: Nigeria’s Afri-mission says it returned 178 vulnerable children to school and enrolled women in adult literacy programmes.

Vocational Education: Zimbabwe’s 31 students graduate from a China-Africa applied talents programme run by Ningbo Polytechnic University and Harare Polytechnic, with training aligned to industry needs. Higher Education & Regulation: South Africa’s CPUT dental technology programme faces a new hurdle after a court ruling, as the Dental Technicians Council weighs whether to suspend the programme. School Safety: KwaZulu-Natal mourns a security guard killed in a school robbery and reports three Grade 12 pupils shot outside Bukimvelo High School, prompting calls for urgent police investigations. Gender-Based Violence & Learning: Mpumalanga records over seven rapes a day, with nearly half involving children; experts warn underreporting and urge consent education, safer reporting in schools, and programmes for boys and men. STEM & Equity: South Africa’s engineering shortage needs 60,000 more engineers, but women remain only about 16% of registered professionals—shifting focus from access to supporting completion and careers. Cross-Border Media: Nigerian and South African journalists in MTN’s Media Innovation Programme urge coverage beyond diplomatic crises to highlight shared innovators, students and researchers.

Tech & Connectivity: Kenya’s internet boom is being powered by new delivery methods: fixed subscriptions rose 32.4% (June 2025–June 2026), with radio tech up 471.1% and satellite (LEO) subscriptions up 54.4%, helping reach areas where fibre and towers are costly. Education Systems Under Strain: Ghana’s Free SHS placement troubles are blamed on CSSPS changes, weak understanding of the policy, and insufficient training for new personnel—raising concerns for students’ futures. STEM Partnerships: Nigeria’s Education Minister says the federal government is exploring transnational education partnerships to strengthen practical STEM in universities, including robotics, AI, biotech, data science and advanced manufacturing. Climate Stress Test: A very strong El Niño is expected to persist to Feb 2027, with southern Africa likely to face drier, hotter conditions—an education-relevant risk for food and school attendance. Safety & GBVF Response: South Africa’s GBVF inter-ministerial committee approved an emergency strategy after killings of women in Ekurhuleni, with a focus on investigations, protection and survivor support. Youth & Elections: Yobe’s ADC candidate Kasim Gaidam pledges youth participation and voter education ahead of 2027, promising on-the-ground monitoring through collation. Global Push for Representation: UN chief António Guterres renewed calls for Africa to secure a permanent UN Security Council seat.

Renewables & Industry: Egypt is signing up for a 2,000MW wind push with China’s SANY, pairing new turbines with a local manufacturing plant—an approach experts say could be a model for Africa’s renewable-energy industrialization, if financing and policy stability catch up. Maps & Identity: Togo-led “Correct the Map” won UN backing for equal-area map projections, with African states arguing global cartography has long distorted Africa’s real size and influence. Education in the Courts: A growing wave of disputes over suspensions, expulsions, marks and even PhD credentials is landing in court, raising questions about how far schools and universities can discipline learners. School Safety: Nigeria’s Oyo State security agencies expanded intelligence-led protection around schools and public institutions after an ISWAP attack alert, including a “Safe School Initiative.” Entrepreneurship & Skills: GEC+Africa 2026 in Cape Town spotlighted “Connecting Africa,” pushing entrepreneurs and policymakers to tackle finance and red tape. Women’s Safety & Learning: South Africa’s femicide crisis is again in focus, while research on teenage pregnancy argues poverty and institutional barriers narrow girls’ real choices. Engineering Leadership: Kenyan nuclear engineer Erick Ohaga won 83% to lead FAEO president-elect, aiming to strengthen innovation and infrastructure across Africa.

Curriculum & AI: Dar es Salaam will host the Sixth Conference of the African Curriculum Association (ACA 2026, Sept 22–25), bringing together curriculum experts and teachers to rethink learning for AI, tech and shifting labour needs. Higher education & scholarship: The International Journal of African Renaissance Studies (IJARS) marks 20 years at the University of South Africa, with a focus on “African Renaissance, Past, Present and Future” and what comes next in an AI- and climate-shaped world. Student readiness gaps: In Texas, analysis of School of Science and Technology Advancement shows 409 of 630 students (65%) were not on track for college in 2023–24, highlighting uneven mastery by student group. Regional education support: Ghana’s University of Ghana returns from the FASU Games in Cairo with 23 medals, with calls for more university sports funding and facilities. Safety & rights: South Africa faces renewed outrage after nine women were found dead near Johannesburg, with memorial runs and demands for stronger action on gender-based violence. Security misinformation: Nigeria’s Army dismissed a viral “intelligence alert” claiming Boko Haram/ISWAP planned attacks on schools and public sites as fake.

Education Policy Flip in South Africa: The Council of Education Ministers has allowed provinces to buy learning materials from the 2026 Foundation Phase National Catalogue even after Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube suspended it, raising questions about consistency in procurement rules. Xenophobia Watch: South Africa is seeing renewed anti-immigrant violence, with migrants describing threats and pressure to leave—an issue that directly affects schooling and safety for African families. Nigeria School Governance Fight: CAPPA rejects the federal government’s concession of King’s College, Lagos to the Old Boys’ Association, calling it a transfer of control away from public responsibility. STEM and Skills Push (Ghana): Ghana’s AfDB-backed GWYESCO programme targets 22,000 jobs plus skills training for women and youth, while South Africa’s Eskom Expo spotlights young researchers. University Leadership (Ghana): AUCB’s new chancellor calls for digital transformation and AI-linked education to reshape programmes. Safety and Learning (South Africa): Police and communities are reeling from femicide-linked fears around Ekurhuleni, with calls for better protection that also matters for school-age girls. Research Capacity (Ghana): KNUST launches a Photonics and Optics Laboratory to build local light-based tools for health, safety and environmental monitoring.

Reparations, education included: CARICOM’s Dr Carla Barnett says reparations must move beyond recognition to real transformation—health, education, debt cancellation and support for Indigenous communities—backing the revised Ten-Point Plan and Manifesto. Democracy and lived power: A South Africa-focused opinion argues elections alone can’t sustain legitimacy if people feel economically excluded and disconnected from daily change. Somalia peacekeeping funding: The US will give the UN another year to wind down support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, raising concerns for AUSSOM’s logistics and the force’s long-term future. STEM learning in Tanzania: In Iringa, students trained through TME Education turned classroom lessons into electronics, smart agriculture and home automation projects at a STEM fair. Gates-style AI for health: The Global Fund says AI tools are helping cushion aid cuts while it manages a major funding shortfall for HIV, TB and malaria. UNISA rejects xenophobia: UNISA calls for stronger academic partnerships and says inequality and weak services—not foreign nationals—drive South Africa’s problems. KNUST boosts research training: Ghana’s KNUST will commission a Photonics and Optics Laboratory to strengthen locally built health, agriculture and environmental safety technologies. School governance fight in Nigeria: CAPPA urges Nigeria to cancel a concession of King’s College, Lagos, warning it shifts public education control to a private association.

School Safety in South Africa: A 16-year-old pupil was stabbed to death inside a classroom at Kuyasa Senior Secondary School in Eastern Cape, prompting renewed calls for stronger protection for learners. Higher Education Funding & Health Links (Liberia): Liberia says it has generated over US$1bn in revenue since January 2026, funding salaries and education building projects at Tubman University and Grand Gedeh University. Inclusive Learning (Gauteng): Gauteng’s education portfolio committee donated 94 books to Ezibeleni School for Physically Disabled Children to boost disability-focused literacy and inclusion. Digital Access Barrier: A GSMA report warns that an entry-level internet smartphone now costs about 76% of monthly income in sub-Saharan Africa, threatening progress on the digital divide. Student Assessment Reform (Nigeria): JAMB set up a committee to review UTME and consider adding life skills and critical thinking. School Meals in East Africa: Kenya, Uganda and Malawi will pilot agroecology-based school meal systems to make feeding healthier and more locally sourced. Regional Mobility (ECOWAS): Stakeholders in Nigeria and ECOWAS highlight the benefits of the ECOWAS biometric identity card for easier travel and trade. Education & Research Pipeline (Nigeria): NIMR and NPMCN urge stronger physician-scientist pathways to improve research and innovation in healthcare.

Education & Digital Payments: Interswitch convened education portal providers in Ibadan to improve secure, efficient digital fee collection as schools increasingly move admissions and school management online. Higher Education Governance: South Africa’s DHET says it is still engaging the Auditor-General over SETA accounting authority appointments, stressing audits aren’t final. Student Mobility & Rights: Zambian-born historian Sishuwa Sishuwa returned to South Africa after Zambia cancelled his passport; Amnesty says the move raises freedom-of-movement concerns. School Safety: Nigeria’s police chief assured parents of children’s safety, launching a Safe School Initiative with 10,000 volunteers and CCTV deployment. Learning Access & Inclusion: Namibia’s Windhoek climate planning highlights nature-based solutions for hotter, drier cities—relevant for school infrastructure and learner wellbeing. Policy & Knowledge: The UN endorsed a new global map projection (“Correct the Map”), expected to shift school curricula and textbooks toward more accurate Africa sizing.

Women’s Safety & GBVF: South Africans marked the “Kempton Park killings” with silent marches as police expand Operation Shanela after eight women’s bodies were found in Ekurhuleni, with communities demanding faster action. Foundational Learning: South Africa’s reading crisis remains stark: by Grade 3, 15% of learners can’t read a single word, raising fresh questions about how AI could support teachers and track progress responsibly. Higher Education Rankings: University of Johannesburg claims Africa’s No.1 spots in 10 subjects in the latest ShanghaiRanking GRAS, including Education and Political Sciences. School Infrastructure: Ghana commissioned a GH¢48,000 mechanized borehole for Akrokyere Presby Primary School, part of a wider push for water access in deprived communities. Education Policy & Access: Nigeria’s school fees pressures are intensifying as parents report increases of 30–40% amid rising fuel and living costs. Digital Skills & AI: ClawCon Nairobi drew 400+ participants to discuss affordable “personal AI” tools for entrepreneurs and students, signalling growing demand for practical AI literacy. UN Opportunities: UNEP Nairobi opened six-month internship vacancies, with deadlines later this month.

World Bank Leadership: Nobel laureate Michael Kremer has been named the World Bank’s next chief economist, with a focus on scaling practical solutions for poverty, jobs and youth development. AI Skills for Citizens: Egypt and Intel signed an MoU to train 1 million citizens annually in AI over three years, stressing safe and responsible use. Education Governance Trouble: South Africa’s Brebner Primary SGB was dissolved amid claims of mismanagement, including missing supplies and unfilled teaching posts. Tertiary Admissions Reform: Nigeria’s JAMB is reviewing UTME to better test critical thinking and life skills, not just subject knowledge. University Court Case: South Africa’s court declined to stop USIU-Africa’s graduation after a DIG sought to be added to the graduate list. Child Labour Push: Nigeria pledged stronger action to eliminate child labour, linking it directly to access to quality education and social protection. Agro-Technology Training: Kenya and Thailand are training smallholder farmers and agricultural trainers in climate-smart practices and farm machinery. University Sports: Ghana’s UDS defended the African university football title in Cairo, beating Julius Nyerere University 2–1. Security and Schools: Nigeria’s DSS plans to re-arraign Ansaru suspects over the abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

AI & Readiness: A new report on AI misuse spotlights how harmful uses spread fast, raising the question of whether Tanzania can detect, regulate and respond to AI in everyday life. Digital Skills for Development: China’s proposed BRICS digital industry initiative aims to link a BRICS digital ecosystem with skills training and tech exchange—positioning it as more than just a platform. Access to Tertiary/TVET: FAWE Liberia, with Mastercard Foundation support, is targeting 650 marginalized young people for university and TVET bursaries across 10 counties. Education Funding Pressure: In Nigeria, parents face rising costs as private schools hike fees; the ADC warns fuel-price pressure is pushing basic education out of reach. Learning & Equity: South Africa’s Gauteng Health boosts HPV vaccination and screening to tackle cervical cancer, reinforcing the need for prevention pathways. Student Success Stories: At 82, South African nurse Dr Dolly Nyasulu earns a PhD from UKZN, focusing on family-centred postnatal care in rural KZN. STEM Outreach: Siblings in Nairobi’s Kibera teach STEM via Zoom to local students, showing low-cost ways to expand learning. Safety & Disruption: Security alerts warn of possible attacks on schools, worship centres and NYSC camps, underlining how conflict risk can derail education. Labour & Education Policy: COSATU’s congress is delayed by leadership and delegate credential disputes, threatening stalled policy discussions that affect public services including schools.

AI for Education and Health: The Gates Foundation pledged $1 billion over two years to expand AI access in healthcare, agriculture and education, with a focus on underserved communities and language datasets for Africa. AI Inequality Warning: Bill Gates cautioned that AI could deepen global injustice unless governments and tech firms deliberately widen who benefits. TVET Skills for Jobs: Ghana’s TVET Service and the Design & Technology Institute signed an MoU to make training more industry-led, strengthen apprenticeships/dual systems, and improve youth transition-to-work. Higher Education Leadership: Uganda’s Parliament Speaker Jacob Oboth urged stronger Uganda–Pakistan ties at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, highlighting how partnerships can expand opportunities. Sports Coaching Education: Nigeria’s National Institute for Sports inspected facilities to support CAF coaching licence programmes, aiming to keep certification training in-country. Education Under Pressure: Nigeria’s opposition ADC warned that petrol prices up to N1,470 per litre are pushing up food, transport and school costs, with reports of private school fee hikes. Accessibility in Learning: Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto and Princess Lalla Asmaa visited children in Morocco receiving cochlear implants, supporting access to sound, communication and learning. Security and Schools: Multiple reports flagged alerts about possible attacks on schools, worship centres and NYSC camps, underscoring risks to education continuity.