The Portuguese Firefighters League has expressed the desire to establish an undergraduate course focused on Civil Protection and Fire Sciences.
The initial procedures to achieve this goal will begin later today through the formalization of a protocol. This agreement involves two key institutions: the National Firefighters School and the Institute of Higher Police Sciences.
In light of the nationwide incident involving the leak of examination materials, representatives from the Bollywood industry have become involved in the public discussion. Twinkle Khanna, wife of Akshay Kumar and a writer, shared a series of photographs on social media that attracted widespread public attention.
These black-and-white pictures demonstrate various aspects of the student demonstrations: police actions, the use of tear gas, the resolve of female protesters, and the enthusiasm of students holding the Indian flag. Twinkle Khanna accompanied the post with a message expressing pride in her country, noting that its youth possess the courage to voice dissent, ask questions, and resist tear gas and batons, although she regrets that they have to do so. Her post is interpreted as support for the student movement.
Twinkle specifically highlighted and praised the spirit of young actresses like Riya Ahir, as well as many women participating in the protests. In one photo, a young woman is shown standing in front of police transport; another student holds a placard that reads: 'This protest is part of our practical exam'; and another picture captures a clash between the police and demonstrators. These images have sparked emotional discussions on social media.
As the topic gains momentum, more Bollywood celebrities are beginning to speak out openly about the situation. Twinkle Khanna's post appeared at a time when many film personalities were sharing their views on the student actions. Reports of her publication are being actively circulated by users who describe her message as an anthem of youthful spirit, while some consider her another loud voice from Bollywood supporting the current student movement. However, a natural question arises as to why Akshay Kumar remains silent on this issue, given that he has not made any statements to the students or the government, which is generating numerous questions on social media.
The old Louisenhof Cellar in Stellenbosch has been transformed into the Apex Education Group campus, a private non-profit school. This school sets an annual fee of R7,800 for 2026, which is equivalent to R780 per month for ten months.
The project, named Apex School Stellenbosch by SALT Architects, was completed in 2025. The architects described it as an adaptation and modification of the old winery to house a new advanced school in Stellenbosch. According to BusinessTech reports, the building was not completely demolished and rebuilt; instead, the old industrial structure was repurposed into a learning space, integrating classrooms and recreational areas on the site previously used for winemaking.
The school itself began operations in January 2024, starting with the first Grade 8 class. According to the Apex Stellenbosch website, the school expands by at least one grade level annually and plans to accept its first cohort of Grade 12 students in 2028. Teaching is conducted in English using a blended learning model that combines digital instruction with teacher presence. Within this model, 100 students are simultaneously in the classroom, independently mastering material online under the guidance of a teacher and assistant.
The group's CEO, Jana du Plooy, informed Inside Education that the Stellenbosch campus initially operated on temporary sites while the permanent facility was being built. 'We then moved into this building in January 2025 when the first phase of construction was completed. Now the entire building is ready,' she stated. Currently, the campus accommodates about 500 students from Grade 8 to Grade 10. At full capacity, the secondary school is expected to enroll 1,000 students, with 200 students in each class.
Apex does not position itself as a single-building project. The group has a 'Vision 10/10/10' plan, which aims to establish 10 schools and provide 10,000 accessible school places by 2034, and already manages several schools in the Western Cape. The recent opening was attended by representatives from the Western Cape Department of Education, the Stellenbosch Municipality, and civil society partners. The Western Cape Minister of Education, David Maynier, called Apex's planned expansion a 'turning point for the Western Cape.'
According to the Apex Stellenbosch website, school fees for 2027 will be R8,250 per student, minus a registration fee of R450. Maintaining the same ten-month logic, this amounts to R825 per month, which, according to the article, is still considered acceptable compared to the usual costs of private schools.
Protests, which began as an online outcry over exam scandals, have escalated into a large-scale confrontation with India's education system, becoming one of the most serious challenges for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term. This movement is led by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has attracted millions of social media followers since May, thanks to 30-year-old PR graduate Abhijit Dipke.
The discontent arose after the leak of an entrance exam ticket for medical admission, forcing over two million candidates to retake the test. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom they hold responsible for a series of examination irregularities that have undermined confidence in India's education system. Furthermore, they are seeking compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000 USD) for the families of about 20 students who, according to reports, committed suicide following the ticket leak.
The movement's agenda has expanded to include concerns about unemployment and youth opportunities, as well as what protesters describe as Modi's increasingly authoritarian style of governance. Despite rapid economic growth in the world's most populous country, millions continue to struggle to find stable and well-paid jobs.
Opposition parties have supported the protesters and begun calling for the resignation of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of allowing the police to use excessive force against students.
After initially ignoring the protests, the government made a belated attempt to soften its stance. Pradhan, facing growing pressure over the examination issues, stated on Tuesday that the government remains committed to reforms. He emphasized: 'We owe it to them (the students) to provide answers, conduct reforms, and ensure accountability.'
Modi did not publicly comment on the protests, but a cabinet minister stated that he had promised to take 'the strongest steps' to protect students' interests. According to author and political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, the government is currently on the defensive. He noted: 'If he (Modi) removes Pradhan now, it will be seen as a victory for public pressure, and that will be very dangerous for Modi.'
The protest has gone beyond memes and social media posts, touching upon widespread youth dissatisfaction regarding job scarcity and future anxieties. Students from across the country joined the demonstrations in Delhi, transcending caste, religious, and regional differences. Small demonstrations also took place in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa.
The government finds it difficult to classify these protests, unlike the situation with farmer protests against agrarian reforms five years ago. Some members of the ruling party tried to portray participants as Sikh separatists aiming to divide the country. Previously, Muslims protesting the Citizenship Law in 2020 were labeled 'anti-nationalists.' Mukhopadhyay believes the latest action was 'more serious because it does not allow the government to frame it as a protest by one community.'
On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters, most of whom were young students, gathered at the Jantar Mantar in the heart of the Indian capital following a call by CJP to march to Parliament. The police attempted to stop the procession using tear gas and batons, to which the protesters responded by throwing stones. This became the largest street demonstration in the capital in approximately the last five years. According to Delhi Police, at least 178 people were injured, including 118 security personnel. Protesters claim that hundreds of demonstrators were injured after being 'brutally beaten' by the police.
Despite police action and intimidation, CJP vowed to continue its actions until its demands are met. The government is exercising caution after youth protests in neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh in recent years have overthrown incumbent regimes. Political scientist Suhas Palshikar stated that it is difficult to predict how the protests will develop in the coming days. He noted on social media: 'The Cockroach movement has started its journey. We do not know if it can survive.'
Mukhopadhyay believes that if the protest continues for a few more days, 'it will become a big problem for the government.'
