School Safety Overhaul (Philippines): After the Banga National High School shooting killed three students, Education Secretary Sonny Angara proposed a Joint School Safety Task Force with DILG and the PNP to run site-specific security audits nationwide, while local officials in Norala suspended face-to-face classes as they review safety measures. Mental Health Response (Philippines): South Cotabato is considering trained psychological first aid personnel for students, teachers and families affected by the attack. Teacher Retention Focus (US): Teacher Retention Academy says districts should shift from “hiring” to “keeping” teachers, targeting workload, burnout, and administrator support. Early Childhood Screen Policy (New Zealand): National vowed to end individual-device use in ECE and tightly limit screens in early primary, adding a “School Start Check” and earlier developmental milestones. IT Skills & Accreditation (Pakistan): Senator Ahad Cheema called for a mechanism to stop admissions to unaccredited IT institutions and align an IT Skills Assessment Test with international standards. Higher Ed Layoff Pressure (US): Coverage highlights how university budget shortfalls are translating into layoffs and program cuts, including a reported $19m gap at the University of Maine. Gaza Academic Restart: Gaza’s education ministry says the new academic year begins after a three-year interruption, using both in-person and virtual learning tracks. Special Needs Investment (UK): Stockton Council agreed to spend £8m on a new special school and expansions to nursery and academy places. Education Access & Infrastructure (Global): UNICEF reports hundreds of thousands of children out of school amid school shutdowns in Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis.