Furniture Burned at Eastbank High School in Alexandria Amid Lack of Desks

The Bar Council of India (BCI) issued a directive to all state councils temporarily suspending the registration of any 2026 law school graduate from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad as an advocate until further notice.

This decision was made amid an alleged organized campaign against the participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant in the university's graduation ceremony.

The NSFAS administrator, Professor Khlengani Matebula, has faced increasing scrutiny after Parliament determined that payments to his advisors had procedural flaws and recommended the return of those funds.

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training demanded action against the administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) because it was found that payments to his advisors were made without the necessary authorization from the Ministers of Higher Education and Finance.

During a briefing on Wednesday, the committee raised questions about whether the remuneration and allowances for four of the administrator's advisors were approved in accordance with the NSFAS Act. Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie stated that the process used by the administrator was both legally and procedurally flawed.

Letsie recommended a thorough review of the matter and urged the Minister to take action against the administrator for actions that completely contradict the mandate to transform NSFAS.

It was reported that some advisors received payments directly into bank accounts, while others preferred to receive funds through their companies. This drew additional criticism from lawmakers, who questioned why the administrator continued to act despite advice from NSFAS supply chain department staff regarding proper procedures.

Letsie accused Matebula of unnecessarily prolonging the discussion about payments, noting that an admission of error could have been made instead, allowing the focus to shift to other issues.

The committee concluded that the payments were irregular and recommended that the advisors immediately return the money they received. Furthermore, the committee proposed establishing mechanisms to address situations where the Ministry of Finance delays approval, provided there is evidence of having requested the necessary permissions.

Meanwhile, Minister Manamela informed the committee that the ministry is working to stabilize NSFAS and resolve ongoing issues, including hundreds of unresolved student appeals, student loan scheme problems, and ICT and data management concerns.

Matebula defended the progress made under his leadership, stating that NSFAS has transformed from an institutionally-oriented model into four regional service hubs and has brought partner accommodation payments back into the system. He reported that 61.5% of university allocations and 59.2% of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college allocations have already been paid out. However, he acknowledged that a significant issue remains: an outstanding amount of 10.49 billion rand for 2026 university tuition fees owed to universities.

The National Agency of Uzbekistan for Ensuring Quality of Education has proposed introducing a system of career centers in all higher education institutions in the country, regardless of their ownership form. The draft resolution has been published for public discussion.

According to the presented draft, career centers will begin operating in every university in Uzbekistan starting January 1, 2027. The main objective of these centers is to enhance the competitiveness of graduates in the labor market, provide students with systematic career counseling, organize internships and practical training, and support employment.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation will oversee the creation of the career centers. Starting in 2028, new private universities will be obliged to open such a center no later than the second year of their operation, while state universities must establish one immediately after opening.

University leaders will also be required to conduct annual surveys among students, graduates, and employers to assess the quality of the career services provided. Separate work plans and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be developed for the centers, and a graduate monitoring system will be implemented.

The project includes training for managers and staff of the career centers. A special program will cover labor market analysis and employment trends, strategies for developing career services, counseling technologies, as well as cooperation with companies and the development of corporate partnerships.

The program will integrate dual education, practical training, and internships with the local labor market. Work with digital platforms such as LinkedIn, hh.uz, and Inplatform is also planned, alongside individual counseling. Participants will receive training on resume writing, interview preparation, personal branding, psychological testing, and the use of artificial intelligence in career counseling.

The training duration will be 144 hours, including 72 hours of online classes, 36 hours of in-person classes, and 36 hours of practical training. Upon completion of the training, participants must pass a three-stage certification, which includes testing, a practical assignment, and project defense.

Under the terms of the project, all positions in the career centers must be filled by graduates of this program by September 2027. Center managers will receive salaries at the same level as deans. Furthermore, the centers will be allocated full-time specialist positions at a ratio of two employees per 3000 students, with compensation levels comparable to deputy deans.

To improve information exchange with employers, electronic systems from the Ministry of Labor and Poverty Reduction, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other relevant bodies will be integrated with the career.edu.uz platform. These institutions will also be obligated to provide career centers with data on employer personnel needs.

The project also includes financial support measures for private universities that establish career centers. The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Tax Committee have been instructed to submit relevant proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers. The resolution remains open for public discussion until August 27.