Many experts emphasise the need for conditional cash transfer programmes, improved rural schooling, transportation support for students, and vocational training initiatives to ensure that families are not forced to choose between survival and education.
The latest nationwide survey reveals a seismic shift in the age profile of Sri Lanka, with the share of children shrinking and the elderly proportion growing – signalling a departure from decades of youthful-growth to one of rapid ageing and dependency pressures.
According to the report, the gap in learning outcomes between wealthier and poorer students is widening – even as the nation slips in its global standings.
The report, filed under Section 7044 of the foreign operations appropriations legislation, outlines multiple fronts on which Washington plans to back human rights, education, and free expression – particularly for Afghan women and girls – even as the Taliban remain in control of most of the country.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement this week that the continued exclusion of girls from classrooms was “a tragic violation of their fundamental rights.” She warned that the ban is denying an entire generation the opportunity to learn and jeopardizing Afghanistan’s future.
In the quiet classrooms of Pakistani universities, thousands of Afghan students – many in the last stretch of their advanced degrees – are living with an unrelenting countdown. On 31 August 2025, Pakistan’s government has ordered that all Afghan nationals must leave the country or face arrest and deportation.
Challenges persist: balancing security needs with rights, combating rising organized crime and drug issues without draconian tools, and ensuring implementation does not lag.
With direct procurement, digital transparency, and welfare measures, India’s cooperative movement is poised for significant growth, promising higher incomes for millions and greater food security for the nation.
Challenges persist: balancing security needs with rights, combating rising organized crime and drug issues without draconian tools, and ensuring implementation does not lag.
Economists note that India’s large domestic market and diversified economy offer insulation compared to smaller, more open nations. Prudent management of fiscal buffers will be critical to navigating near-term volatility while sustaining the growth trajectory.