USA: Major Overhaul of Student‑Loan Repayment Comes July 2026 The U.S. Department of Education will undertake major student‑loan repayment modifications beginning July 1, 2026, under the freshly passed “Big Beautiful Bill.” Key modifications include: Two new income‑driven repayment plans that cap monthly payments at 1–10% of borrower income, replacing the less generous SAVE plan. Loan forgiveness after 30 years for borrowers under the revised proposals. Expansion of Pell Grant funding by $10.5 billion to offset prior shortages. Revisions to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to count payments under revised plans. Broader eligibility for borrower defense claims for students duped by institutions Vakil Search New York Post +2 Business Insider +2 The Daily Tar Heel +2 . Additionally, amid bipartisan pressure, the administration released previously frozen money allocated for after-school programs—including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program—freeing up billions of dollars that had been slated to states since July 1 Axios .
U.S. Department of Education: Staff Cuts Jeopardize Federal Capacity
Following a Supreme Court decision, the Trump administration lay off over 1,300 personnel inside the Department—particularly harming data collecting, student assistance operations, and civil rights enforcement. Former DOE analyst Jason Cottrell warns that teacher shortages, delays in financial aid, and decreased civil rights oversight are among the severe hazards coming from these staffing reductions TIME .
India & South Asia: NEP 2025 Implements Exam Reforms and Vocational Upskilling India’s New Education Policy (NEP) 2025 introduces: An modified No‑Detention provision that allows retention after Class 5 or 8 if students haven’t reached key learning outcomes—prioritizing remedial support before retention The Washington Post +15 mittsure.com +15 Community Impact +15 . Two board test tries per year for Class 10 students, with just the higher score counted—designed to relieve pressure and foster mastery mittsure.com . Integration of vocational education starting in Class 6, including hands‑on instruction in coding, AI, carpentry, and more, aiming at producing employable skills by 2025 standards Vakil Search +3 mittsure.com +3 StudyToper +3 . Digital classrooms using mixed learning—smartboards, tablets, and virtual labs via platforms like DIKSHA and PM eVidya StudyToper +3 mittsure.com +3 Extramarks +3 . A nationwide teacher training effort, targeting accreditation of 80% of instructors in new pedagogical and digital tools by 2025 StudyToper +3 Extramarks +3 Vakil Search +3 .
Pakistan: Provincial Reforms Accelerating Educational Access and Quality
Across Pakistan, education changes are underway: Punjab province combined education agencies into a unitary authority (PECTAA), boosted the education budget to ~4% of GDP, and introduced the Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Programme offering 30,000 annual scholarships spanning 68 disciplines Policy Wire +5 My Blog +5 Education Being +5 . A $20 billion World Bank commitment over the next decade supports school infrastructure, teacher training, and inclusive initiatives, notably for girls and vulnerable communities Education Being . Sindh province has cut board test curriculum by 25% and is evaluating textbooks to minimize bias and improve inclusion Education Being +1 Education Being +1 . Digital transformation via the Digital Safar Program includes granting digital student IDs powered by Google’s Gemini AI, and rollout of locally manufactured 500,000 Chromebooks to boost access in distant areas Education Being .
Region Spotlight: Odisha, India Introduces Holistic Student Progress Cards
The Board of Secondary Education Odisha is deploying Holistic Progress Cards (HPC) across approximately 10,000 schools for the 2025–26 academic year. The examination incorporates 41 parameters—including creativity, emotional and social abilities, critical thinking, and physical fitness—moving beyond exam-centric measurements. Teachers will receive training, and HPC will incorporate into matriculation certificate verification for better transparency The Times of India .
UK: Growing Learning Gap Among Children with Special Educational Needs A survey from the Education Policy Institute in England indicates children aged five with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are now on average 20.1 months behind their peers—highlighting the urgent need for early intervention. The UK Department for Education has announced fresh investment of £9 billion in early education and extended childcare support to bridge these gaps theguardian.com .
Nepal: Teacher Protests Lead to Education Bill Agreement
Nepal’s statewide teacher demonstrations during April 2025, led by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, challenged a planned School Education Bill that would centralize teacher administration. The strike concluded on April 30 with a nine‑point agreement providing job security, acceptance of earlier agreements, and a pledge to approve the bill immediately Wikipedia . Why These Policy Updates Matter Equity & Inclusion: Policies targeting vulnerable pupils and giving internet access are vital to address systemic disparities. De-stressing Education Systems: Exam changes and multiple testing chances aim to lessen performance pressure and focus on learning outcomes. Workforce Readiness: Vocational and skill-based learning prepares pupils for real-world professions rather than rote academia. Sustainable Funding: New scholarship programs and international investments (e.g. World Bank loans) indicate long-term commitment. Transparency & Accountability: Holistic evaluations and digital tracking tools enhance fairer student assessment and governance
Education Policy Updates 2025:
m India’s NEP 2025 exam reforms and vocational focus, to Pakistan’s provincial reforms and digital deployment, to U.S. student‑loan and funding shifts—the world’s education landscape is evolving dramatically. Odisha implements holistic report cards, England confronts SEND learning gaps, and Nepal settles teacher protests with an enforced education bill. These improvements reflect a global drive towards egalitarian, skills‑based, and student‑centered learning. Would you like tailored subsections or pictures added for use in a newsletter, blog, or school website? Top education policy news Business Insider Trump is rolling off significant reforms to student-loan payments Today Axios Trump admin will provide cash for after-school programs Today TIME This Education Department Official Lost His Job. Here’s What He Says Is At Risk Yesterday The Times of India Board proposes ‘holistic’ achievement cards for students Yesterday theguardian.com Five-year-olds in England with special educational requirements 20 months behind peers – report.
