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The 23-member task force, including a wide range of education, finance, and policy experts from various institutions, has been assembled to deliver a comprehensive roadmap on the implementation of free tertiary education in Namibia.

The 23-member task force includes a wide range of education, finance, and policy experts from institutions such as the University of Namibia, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia Qualifications Authority, and Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF).

While many questions remain around how the policy will be funded, education ministry executive director Erastus Haitengela says the task force is assessing potential financial models. Although NSFAF is expected to play a key role, he says no official funding mechanisms have been confirmed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to “intelligent machines and algorithms that can reason and adapt based on sets of rules and environments which mimic human intelligence”. This field is evolving rapidly and the education sector, for one, is abuzz with discussion on AI use for writing.

This matters not just for academics, but for anyone relying on trustworthy information, from journalists and policymakers to educators and the public. Ensuring transparency in how AI is used protects the credibility of all published knowledge.

In education and research, AI can generate text, improve writing style, and even analyse data. It saves time and resources by allowing quick summarising of work, language editing and reference checking. It also holds potential for enhancing scholarly work and even inspiring new ideas.

THE University of Zimbabwe (UZ)'s administration has fired four leaders of the ongoing lecturers' strike. The strike has reached day 71, with lecturers demanding an upward review of their salaries to US$2,250 from the current US$230.

The four dismissed are Association of University Teachers (AUT) leaders: Munyaradzi Chamburuka (President), Bornface Mwakorera (Secretary-General), Justin Tandire (Organising Secretary), and Obvious Vengeyi (Spokesperson).

Vengeyi told NewZimbabwe.com, Wednesday that they were dismissed for using the great hall without approval from the university, despite the fact that university authorities had opened the building for them and had also provided a legal officer and security personnel during the event. The four were suspended last month and later underwent disciplinary hearings.

The Ethiopian government is ramping up efforts to bridge the education gap and expand access to quality learning through the launch of a nationwide Early Childhood Development and Education Policy Campaign. Education State Minister Ayelech Eshete announced the initiative, underscoring its central role in laying the foundation for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

“Early childhood education is not just about learning. It is about building the economy and the nation’s future,” she remarked during the recent campaign’s launch event. The campaign aims to integrate early childhood education into national policy frameworks, teacher training systems, and grassroots initiatives, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn from an early age.

Ayelech also stressed the importance of community engagement, particularly in supporting school construction efforts to improve access in underserved areas. At the same forum, Women and Social Affairs Minister Ergoge Tesfaye (PhD) highlighted the urgent need to provide equitable early learning opportunities especially in rural and marginalized communities.

According to Coursera’s 2025 Global Skills Report, South Africa is the most artificial intelligence (AI)-advanced country in Africa and 61st in the world. Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco are in positions 68, 78 and 80, respectively.

Other African countries making it to the top 100 globally include Ghana, Rwanda, Botswana, Egypt, Zambia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda and Cameroon. The report covers data collected from 109 countries, representing 56% of the world’s recognised sovereign states.

A new feature in the report is the AI Maturity Index, a comparative analysis of global readiness that assesses progress in AI learning, research and innovation. The micro-credentials education company ranked South Africa, Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco as ‘emerging’ in AI-readiness and the rest of the continent, alongside numerous countries in Asia and Latin America, as ‘lagging’.

A Professor of Space Physics and Aeronomy at Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi, Ekiti State, Babatunde Adebesin, alongside other scholars, have emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to adopt technology and entrepreneurship-driven education.

Adebesin called on the government to invest in a policy shift that prioritises innovation, provides infrastructure that supports a digital ecosystem, and, most importantly, promotes an educational system that produces tech-savvy graduates and a modern workforce.

He stated, “Our tertiary institutions are always said to have their core mandates to include teaching, research, and community engagement, but all of these without the infusion of technology and entrepreneurial skills will take us nowhere.”

Lagos State government yesterday said it would add arts to the Eko STEAM Mentorship series to ensure that every child benefits from the state’s educational policy. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education made this known during the Innovative Eko STEAM Mentorship series in Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry, Lagos.

The initiative was launched last November 8 to provide mentorship and resources to empower pupils with practical future-ready skills. Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Education, Mr Eniola Opeyemi, said: “This is to ensure no child is left behind, the aim is to explore the ability of some students who are good in other areas apart from science.’’

“As you are aware, a student of Lagos State recently won the Milo Milo World championship competition and also some students are doing well in other areas. “We are inaugurating Lagos State secondary school sports festival to bring students together to showcase their talents and mentor them, groom them for the future.

Autonomy is often central to the effective functioning of universities. It allows institutions to make independent decisions regarding academic programmes, research priorities, resource allocation, staff and governance – aspects which are critical for fostering innovation, academic excellence and responsiveness to societal needs.

Whether universities are entitled to autonomy or must earn it depends on the country’s legal, political and educational framework. In many cases, autonomy is granted by national laws or policies, meaning universities are entitled to autonomy as part of their institutional status.

However, this autonomy often comes with conditions, such as accountability, quality assurance and adherence to national educational goals. In other contexts, universities may need to demonstrate their capacity for self-governance, academic excellence and responsible management to earn greater autonomy over time.

The Federal Government yesterday said no stone would be left unturned towards Nigeria drive to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy by the year 2030. The government assured that following the inclusion of digital literacy as a cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration, all efforts would be geared towards the success of the goal.

The Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the initiative and President of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Mr David Daser gave the assurance during the inaugural meeting of the group at the DBI headquarters in Abuja.

David Daser said the government as well as members of the National Digital Literacy Technical Working Group ( NDL-TWG) are committed to the ideas and goals of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy in the country by 2030.

The Federal Government on Tuesday commenced the implementation of bachelor’s degree programmes across 15 approved Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria. This move follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent assent to the legislation empowering Federal Colleges of Education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

Speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme in Abuja, on ministerial deliverables and the education sector roadmap, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, announced the development.

Enitan, represented by the Director of Educational Planning, Julie Uzor, noted that the dual certification model is aimed at revitalising teacher education and addressing dwindling enrollment. “This policy allows Colleges of Education to concurrently award the NCE and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

Nigeria’s development journey remains stunted by several interlocking socio-economic challenges. Top among them are unemployment, a poorly skilled labour force, and deepening insecurity. At the heart of these issues is a crisis of human capital.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent in Q3 2023, up from 4.2 percent in the previous quarter. Among youths aged 15–24, the situation is even more alarming, with joblessness rising to 8.6 percent from 7.2 percent, a reminder that the country’s most productive age group continues to be the most economically excluded.

Compounding this crisis is the issue of education. As of the latest updates, 18.3 million children are reported out of school nationwide, according to UNICEF’s May 2024 estimate. This makes Nigeria the country with the highest number of out‑of‑school children globally.