Global Initiative Bi-weekly Countries News Updates

                                                                  January 27th to February 7th, 2025

Lebanon 


Voluntary Return of Syrian Refugees and IDPs 2025

Following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria in early December 2024, many among the 5.5 million Syrian refugees in Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have expressed elation and hope about the prospect of returning to their homes, together with caution.

Subsequently, as of end-January 2025, UNHCR estimates that some 250,000 Syrians have already returned to Syria since then. Similarly, with unrestricted movement within much of the country restored, particularly to the northwest and northeast, UNHCR and partners have observed an uptick in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside Syria who have returned home during the same period, often to damaged dwellings and areas lacking services and livelihood opportunities.



Deadly attacks in eastern Aleppo highlight Syria’s vulnerability The explosion on Monday – close to the Turkish border – targeted a vehicle transporting seasonal agricultural workers. According to news reports, at least 11 women and three children were among the dead. It follows another attack just days earlier that killed four civilians and injured nine others, including six children. Monday’s car bombing was reportedly the seventh in just over a month and it marks the deadliest attack inside Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. The area has been a battleground for Turkish-backed forces and mostly Kurdish fighters. No group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack so far. “We reiterate that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing journalists in New York.


Malawi


Mozambique urges refugees in Malawi to return home Mozambican authorities have assured thousands of refugees who fled to Malawi following the recent post-election unrest that peace has been restored in their country and that they are welcome to return home. Officials from Mozambique's Institute of Disaster Management Affairs made the comment Friday during a visit to the Nyamithuthu refugee camp in Nsanje district, which hosts asylum seekers from Mozambique. Luisa Celma Meque, the head of the Institute of Disaster Management Affairs in Mozambique, thanked the Malawi government for taking care of asylum-seekers from her country. Luisa Celma Meque, the head of the Institute of Disaster Management Affairs in Mozambique, thanked the Malawi government for taking care of asylum-seekers from her country.


South Africa


South Africa: Transforming the Basic Education Sector Can Drive Inclusive Growth Transforming the basic education sector by improving the quality of learning from an early age can drive inclusive growth in South Africa, according to a World Bank report released today. The report also provides an analysis of the country’s recent economic performance and prospects for the medium term. The fifteenth edition of the World Bank’s South Africa Economic Update, entitled Learning: Overdue Reforms and Emerging Priorities for the Basic Education, asserts that the country’s successful political transition following elections and the almost total absence of energy load shedding in 2024 have brought the economy back on a positive trajectory.


Transforming skills development: the shift towards TVET in South Africa
Education expert and CEO of Future Learning Institute (FLi), Christo Nicholls, has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new approach to ensuring that South Africa moves towards prioritising vocational training in higher education reform. This comes after Ramaphosa, delivered his first State of the Nation Address, where he underscored a pronouncement made by Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, who recently indicated that South Africa cannot “dream of taking people to Mars when we can’t have our own plumbers, cobblers, and seamstresses. Those are the kinds of skills we want to focus on and skills that are in our TVET colleges”.


Understanding South Africa’s immigration and refugee policies: Key laws and recent court rulings South Africa (SA) attracts many immigrants and asylum seekers due to its economic prospects and stability. However, balancing national security and human rights obligations remains a significant challenge. The Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and the Refugees Act 130 of 1998 govern how the country manages immigration and asylum, addressing definitions, rights, responsibilities, and penalties. Recent rulings by South African courts have added clarity to how these laws should be applied, especially regarding detention, deportation, and asylum processes.

Rwanda


International Day of Education: Where does Rwanda stand in integrating AI, technology?

Marking the International Day of Education under the theme “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” prompts reflections on how education can empower people to navigate and influence technological advancements.

According to Diane Sengati, the Head of the Department of ICT Education at Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), the country has made significant strides in integrating AI and technology into its education system. In April 2023, the Cabinet approved the National AI Policy, making Rwanda the first African country to design such a framework. This policy outlines a comprehensive approach to leverage AI's potential across key sectors, including education.

Kenya

A Lifeline for refugees: protecting the most vulnerable in Kenya
Kenya is home to nearly 820,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war-torn countries such as Somalia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan. For them, escaping conflict often means enduring unimaginable hardships and rebuilding lives far from home.

Emmanuela (27), from Burundi, arrived in Kenya in 2019 after fleeing violent clashes between the government and opposition forces in her home country. “I love my country, it’s beautiful and green,” she shares. “But many of my siblings were killed, and my parents were killed also in the conflict”. At the time, she was lucky to survive but found herself in a desperate situation. Her only surviving brother took her in when she could no longer return to her parent’s home, and there she hid until she was able to escape Burundi. 


Schools in Crisis as MoE relaeases less capitation funds Secondary school principals are warning of serous management challenges due to delayed disbursements of capitation funds. 

They say only Ksh. 4000 per student has been released, far below the required Ksh8,000 for this term. The Ministry of Education was expected to have disbursed Ksh.28 billon by this time, representing 50 percent of total capitation funds. A month after the school term began, only Ksh. 14 billion was available. The school's principals have raised concerns about system failures, with some students not correctly captured. This leads to reduced disbursements for specific schools.


Vietnam


Vietnam’s education system prepares for reform in 2025

At the highest management level, MOET has confirmed that in 2025, it will rigorously carry out the restructuring and streamlining of the organizational structure while reallocating civil servants, public employees, and contract workers.


The Ministry will also proactively explore options for receiving new personnel and units under its management. According to a draft decree on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training, the planned structure will have 19 units, reducing four units from the current number. The five units that will be eliminated are: the Department of Physical Education, the Department of Ethnic Education, the Department of Continuing Education, the Department of Facilities, and the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment.

India

Education Budget 2025: Higher education budget up by over ₹2,400 crore

The center has allocated ₹50077.95 crore to the Education Ministry's Department of Higher Education for the 2025-26 financial year, up from ₹47619.77 crore allocated for the 2024-25 financial year. This includes ₹2160 crore for student financial aid for the next financial year. The centre aims to spend ₹681 crore on digital India e-learning. Allocation for Research and Innovation stands at ₹327 crore. ₹11349 crore has been allocated to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the budget document shows. Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) have been allocated ₹522.20 crore, up from ₹515.91 crore allocated for FY 2024-25.

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