Critical Education Changes
High-impact policy changes, exam updates, calendar decisions and education rules that readers are most likely to need first.
General Education Law Approved (Saudi Arabia, July 2026)
The General Education Law was published in the official gazette. It establishes national legal rules for education through Grade 12, including governance, institutions, student rights, quality, assessment and staff duties.
State Council Issued China’s 2026-2030 Education Development Plan (China, June 2026)
China’s State Council issued the Education Development 15th Five-Year Plan, setting the national education policy framework for 2026-2030. The plan changes the implementation direction for basic education, vocational education, higher education, education governance, digital education, and school quality improvement.
DepEd Issues the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum (Philippines, June 2026)
DepEd issued the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum. The policy updates the senior high school program and forms a major part of the Philippines' wider basic education curriculum reform.
DfE Updated Free School Meals Guidance for the 2026 to 2027 Expansion (United Kingdom, June 2026)
The Department for Education updated guidance confirming that from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to a free school meal in covered settings.
Canada Announces New Federal Funding to Maintain Affordable Early Learning and Child Care (Canada, June 2026)
Canada announced up to 5.4 billion Canadian dollars over two years to maintain affordable early learning and child care across the country. The funding is intended to support affordability, system stability, early childhood educators, and continued expansion of spaces.
Turkey Published the 2026-2027 National School Calendar (Turkey, June 2026)
Turkey's Ministry of National Education announced the official 2026-2027 education and training year calendar. The calendar sets teacher professional work dates, school opening and closing dates, adaptation activities, semester breaks and mid-term breaks.
Digital Centrally Marked National Final Exams Commissioned (Sweden, July 2026)
The government instructed the National Agency for Education to develop digital, centrally marked national final examinations for the grading system scheduled to be introduced progressively from 2028.
DepEd Revises Classroom Assessment, Grading, and Recognition Rules (Philippines, June 2026)
DepEd issued revised guidelines on classroom assessment, the grading system, and awards and recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program. The change aligns assessment practice with the revised basic education curriculum reforms.
Detailed Implementation Plan Published for the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (South Korea, June 2026)
The detailed implementation plan for the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test was published. It confirms the operational framework for the national university entrance exam scheduled for November 19, 2026.
Australia Introduces Universities Accord Bill for Managed Growth and Needs-Based University Funding (Australia, June 2026)
The Australian Government introduced legislation to create Managed Growth Funding and Needs-Based Funding for universities. The bill is part of the Universities Accord reform agenda and is intended to expand access, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and regional or remote communities.
Spain Approves 2026 Funding to Reinforce Mathematical Competence (Spain, June 2026)
Spain approved the 2026 territorial distribution of €120,562,298 for a national cooperation program to reinforce mathematical competence in publicly funded schools. The program will run during the 2026-2027 execution period.
Sweden Confirmed Mobile-Free School Rules for Obligatory School Forms (Sweden, June 2026)
The National Agency for Education highlighted new mobile-free school rules that begin applying in summer 2026. The rules cover obligatory school forms, leisure-time centres, and open leisure-time activities.
Free Registration Fees Approved for Public Higher Education Applicants (Colombia, June 2026)
Decree 0617 of 2026 added rules to Decree 1075 of 2015 so eligible applicants can receive public financing for registration fees at state or official higher education institutions. The measure applies to undergraduate admissions and is tied to vulnerability criteria, budget availability, and an operating regulation.
France Sets New Initial Training Rules for Public Teachers and Education Personnel (France, June 2026)
France issued a national order setting the initial training and adaptation-to-employment arrangements for public teachers and education personnel. The order applies to winners of the 2026 recruitment competitions, with some adaptation provisions entering force on 1 September 2026.
MOEHE Launches School Fees Policy for Private Schools and Kindergartens (Qatar, June 2026)
MOEHE launched the first edition of the School Fees Policy 2026 for private schools and kindergartens, with official implementation set for the 2027-2028 academic year after a pilot phase. The policy creates a unified framework for approving tuition, operating, service, and optional fees.
China Strengthened 2026 Gaokao Exam Security and Anti-Cheating Controls (China, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education and other departments reinforced national security controls for the 2026 Gaokao. The update focused on stricter exam-site management, high-tech anti-cheating measures, smart security checks, and coordinated action against exam-related fraud.
Sweden Regulated Teachers’ Teaching and Planning Time (Sweden, June 2026)
The Government decided new rules defining teachers' teaching assignment, including maximum annual teaching-time ranges and minimum time for planning and follow-up. The rules are scheduled to apply from 1 July 2027.
U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Earnings Accountability Rule for Higher Education Programs (United States, June 2026)
The U.S. Department of Education announced a final rule creating a postsecondary earnings accountability framework for higher education programs. The rule links federal loan and Title IV eligibility consequences to whether program graduates meet specified earnings benchmarks.
2027-2030 Elementary and Secondary Subject Teacher Supply Direction Announced (South Korea, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education announced the medium-term teacher supply direction for 2027-2030 in response to demographic change and new education policy needs. The plan gives public hiring ranges for elementary and secondary subject teachers and links staffing to small schools, growing areas, the high school credit system and AI talent development.
Government Presents Bill to Reform the School Admission System (Chile, June 2026)
The government presented and signed a bill to modify Chile’s School Admission System. The proposal would replace the current lottery-centered model with a mixed application model that includes mutual choice and random allocation mechanisms.
School Network Revised for the 2026-2027 School Year (Greece, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education approved school network changes for the 2026-2027 school year, including new schools, upgrades, mergers, downgrades, closures, and special education unit changes. The changes affect primary, secondary, and special education provision across the country.
Italy Issues 2026/2027 National School Holiday and Exam Calendar (Italy, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education and Merit published Ministerial Ordinance No. 106 of 10 June 2026 on holidays and examinations for school year 2026/2027. The ordinance provides the national reference calendar for school closures and exam scheduling.
Spain Approves 2026 Funding to Reinforce Reading Competence (Spain, June 2026)
Spain approved €56,211,619 in 2026 funding for a territorial cooperation program to reinforce reading competence. The program covers publicly funded schools and will be implemented during the 2026-2027 execution period.
Higher Education Level Pilot Rules Approved for 2026/27–2029/30 (Russia, June 2026)
The Russian Government approved rules for continuing the pilot project that changes higher education levels. The rules apply to the 2026/27 through 2029/30 academic years.
National Policy for Students with High Abilities or Giftedness Enacted (Brazil, June 2026)
Law nº 15.436/2026 created a national policy for students with high abilities or giftedness. The law addresses early identification, specialized education service, curriculum enrichment, acceleration, and a national register.
Japan Enacts School Education Act Amendment to Allow Textbooks with Digital Components (Japan, June 2026)
Japan formally promulgated an amendment to the School Education Act and related laws that redefines textbooks so they can include digital records, not only printed materials. The main provisions are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027.
Free Degree Fees Approved for Eligible Public Higher Education Graduands (Colombia, June 2026)
Decree 0616 of 2026 regulated free degree fees for eligible students completing undergraduate programs at state or official higher education institutions. The measure covers the administrative payment tied to graduation and sets eligibility, prioritization, and resource rules.
Government Announced Enrichment Benchmarks and the Every Child Can Programme (United Kingdom, June 2026)
The government announced enrichment benchmarks for schools and colleges and a £132.5 million Every Child Can programme to widen access to activities such as arts, sport, nature, civic engagement and life skills.
YÖK Published a National Micro-Credentials Framework for Higher Education (Turkey, June 2026)
Turkey's Council of Higher Education published procedures and principles for micro-credentials in higher education. The framework allows certain short, skills-based learning outcomes to be recognised within the academic credit system under defined conditions.
MŠMT Revises Basic Education Curriculum Language Rules (Czechia, June 2026)
MŠMT announced changes to the revised RVP ZV for basic education. The changes remove the requirement to start English in grade 1 and move the second foreign language from the common base to compulsory-choice subjects.