Latest news with #MinistryofEducation
Cision Canada
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
OCSTA Statement Regarding Provincial Supervision of School Boards
TORONTO, June 27, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association and the province's 29 Catholic District School Boards, share the government's commitment to good stewardship of resources, accountability and fiscal responsibility. While acknowledging the appointment of supervisors at four school boards, we were pleased to hear Minister Calandra's recognition that, "most boards across Ontario are doing the right thing." Building on recent productive conversations, we look forward to on-going discussions with Minister Calandra and Ministry of Education officials regarding the unique circumstances of certain school boards as well as, challenges associated with rising sick leave costs, special education and student transportation funding. As the locally elected representatives of the Catholic community, Catholic School Trustees remain united in their conviction to "place Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the centre" of students' learning experiences.
CairoScene
a day ago
- Automotive
- CairoScene
Sharjah Grants Free Driving Licences to Top High School Graduates
Sharjah Police launches the 'Excellence License' covering full licensing costs, and offers 50% discounts for children of police staff under the 'License for the Children of Givers'. Jun 27, 2025 Sharjah Police has launched the 'Excellence License' program, offering free driving licences to the top 10 government school graduates, covering full training and licensing costs. The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sharjah Private Education Authority, Sharjah Driving Institute, and Belhasa Driving Institute, aims to reward academic excellence. Additionally, the 'License for the Children of Givers' offers 50% discounts for children of Sharjah Police employees during the summer break.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
Amid surging teen suicides, budget for in-school counseling services declines
The recent deaths of three high school students in Busan have again cast a spotlight on mental health among South Korean teenagers. Despite the rise in the number of suicides among Korean adolescents, existing mental health support systems continue to falter in part due to budget cuts. While the government has rolled out emergency mental health hotlines specifically for students and established in-school counseling centers — known as 'Wee Class' — the budget for their operation has been shrinking. The Ministry of Education's budget for Wee Classes and emergency mental health hotlines has dropped to 1.05 billion won ($774,000) in 2025 from 1.2 billion won in 2021, according to the government data. Doubts have also been raised about the effectiveness of the system, because Wee Classes, first introduced in 2008, are a long way from being accessible for all students nationwide. As of 2024, roughly 12,000 schools are operating in Korea. However, data also suggested that one in four of such schools do not offer mental health support. On the other hand, teen suicides continued to surge. A total of 475 teenagers died by suicide in 2023 — a 54.7 percent increase from 307 in 2015, According to the Korean National Police Agency's data presented by Rep. Park Jeong-hyeon of the Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday. Among middle and high school students, 42.3 percent reported experiencing significant stress, while 27.7 percent showed indications of depression. Also, an emotional and behavioral assessment taken in 2024 by the Ministry of Education identified 17,667 students as being at risk of suicide. Including those considered vulnerable to emotional distress, over 72,000 students were flagged for additional attention. Experts stress that preventing suicide among teenagers requires access to timely intervention and treatment, but also for the issue to be accepted as a social problem, not an individual one. 'The issue of suicide, whether that is centered around students or not, should never be perceived as a problem that only the victim had to deal with. Instead, it should be an issue that society should look back on together and ask questions such as, 'why did things have to turn out the way it did?' and 'what can we do to prevent it?,'' psychiatry professor Baek Jong-woo of Kyung Hee University told The Korea Herald. 'We need effective, stronger programs for suicide prevention and there is a need for mandatory education and counseling — especially among vulnerable groups.' Baek added that there was also a need in dismantling academic competition. 'In an education system that makes students measure their value based on their achievements, it's easy to deprive such students of finding meaning or satisfaction in life. The system in which the students can access to seek mental health assistance — such as Wee Classes — must be made accessible for all so that help feels easier to reach.' If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan seeks to end living expenses aid to foreign doctoral students
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's education ministry plans to restrict living expenses support for doctoral students to Japanese nationals only, a panel proposal showed Thursday after parliamentary debate over foreign students accounting for over a third of recipients of the public grants. The plan to abolish foreigners' access to living subsidies of 1.8 million yen ($12,400) to 2.4 million yen per annum is expected to take effect in fiscal 2027, pending approval from a committee. According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 10,564 people received the subsidies in fiscal 2024, of whom 4,125, around 39 percent, were from overseas. Chinese nationals made up 76% of the non-Japanese cohort at 3,151 people. In March, the findings were raised during a parliamentary session by a lawmaker who called for the funds to be limited to Japanese nationals in principle. The government launched a support program in fiscal 2021 to boost the number of doctoral students by supporting their living and research expenses. The proposal presented at a meeting of panel members says that the changes "reflect the program's aims to ease Japanese students' worries about their financial situations to enable them to advance to doctoral study," adding that many foreign students fund their education privately. Foreign students will remain eligible for research support of up to 1.1 million yen under the program.
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
MOE probes claim Pakistani national officiated school sports event in Kerian
IPOH: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is investigating claims that a Pakistani national officiated a school sports event in Kerian, Perak. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed the probe when approached by reporters after attending the Perak-level Maal Hijrah 1447H celebration. A viral social media video showed the man being given the honour of launching an athletics meet at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sama Gagah in Simpang Empat Semanggol. Fadhlina stated, 'We are looking into the matter,' but did not provide further details. Separately, Fadhlina expressed gratitude to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, for posthumously awarding her late mother, Datin Dr Siti Zalikhah Md Nor, the Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Award. Her mother was a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a staunch advocate of syariah law. 'Empowering women in all aspects was her life's work and area of expertise,' Fadhlina said. She accepted the award on behalf of her late mother during the ceremony.
