Global Scans · Education · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Education will increasingly be online, just-in-time and competence-based. VR will become more mainstream in education technology. The vision of easily accessible learning will be enormously powerful and widespread in a few years. The global artificial intelligence market in the education sector will grow exponentially and post an impressive CAGR of over 39% by 2020.

• [New] The Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2025 shows a record-high reading underachievement of 26.2% among fifteen-year-olds, against an EU-level target of 15% by 2030. News Media Europe
• [New] Tech giants like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Baidu stand to solidify their dominance, while sectors such as media production and digital education will likely see the fastest ROI. AI For Developing Countries Forum
• [New] By learning directly from vast streams of Earth observations, AI is starting to predict both tomorrow's storm and next century's climate within a single, unified framework. Nature
• [New] The new AI learning pathway builds on IBM's ongoing partnership with the UK Government's AI Skills Boost initiative, which aims to upskill 10 million UK workers by 2030. IBM UK Newsroom
• [New] A pilot in north-west England will provide up to 70 people aged 16 to 21 with three weeks of AI training, including learning to build AI tools, understanding how businesses use AI and learning to use the technology responsibly. The Guardian
• [New] In 2026, more than 70% of higher education organizations in North America are expected to evaluate AI applications for personalized learning, academic analytics, and virtual assistance. Zeta42
• [New] The importance of developing adaptable skills early is underscored by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which estimates that nearly 40% of core job skills will change by 2030, reinforcing the need for continuous learning, innovation, and workplace readiness. FedEx Newsroom
• [New] By combining dialog, experimentation and co-design, the CREDEX contribution will demonstrate how micro-credentials can become connectors between education, industry, creative practice and policy, strengthening more responsive and interconnected skills ecosystems across Europe. Consorzio Materahub
• [New] AI in education is growing even faster - from $11.4 billion in 2026 toward $57 billion by 2033 at a 25.9% CAGR. Online Skill Assessment | Online Exam Software | Ekla
• AI literacy is an increasingly important aspect of MOE's broader EdTech Masterplan 2030, which lays out plans to tap education technology to complement teaching. ST
• All primary, secondary and JC teachers in Singapore must complete three compulsory AI training modules by 2027 to understand AI fundamentals, ethical use, and its impact on learning. ST
• From 2027, the first V Levels in education, accounting and finance and digital will be introduced. GOV.UK
• Strengthening education and workforce training, adapting social protection systems and ensuring that the benefits of AI-driven growth are more widely shared will become central policy challenges as China moves toward a more intelligent society. China-US Focus
• Strengthening Education and Skilled Mobility: Deeper institutional partnerships can expand opportunities for Indian students, researchers and professionals, while joint research can advance innovation in agriculture, climate and emerging technologies. Insights IAS
• Nearly 40% of the skills workers rely on now could change or become outdated by 2030, making adaptability and lifelong learning more important than ever. UN News
• Alabama's CHOOSE Act education savings accounts are fully funded for the 2026-2027 school year. A to Z for Moms Like Me
• More students can deepen their study of mother tongue languages from 2027 as the Ministry of Education expands the Language Elective Programme at both the secondary and junior college levels. ST
• From 2027, the Language Elective Programme will expand, adding schools for Chinese and Tamil languages to offer more students advanced mother tongue learning and cultural exposure. ST
• The Ministry of Education will expand Tamil and Chinese language elective programmes and the Malay, giving more students opportunities to deepen their learning of mother tongue languages. CNA
• In the second half of 2026, students from institutes of higher learning will have an Adulting 101 programme on key life transitions. ST

Last updated: 26 August 2026