April 2026: Expanding Educator Support and Broadening Learning Experiences
Across the Asia-Pacific, much of the recent education coverage centres on the daily work that comes with teaching and learning: how schools are thinking about screen use, how they are supporting high-ability pupils and more diverse student populations, and how broader system pressures are showing up in classrooms. Together, these resources show how the region is balancing progress with care.
More than 800 early childhood educators in Singapore took part in a webinar focused on young children’s screen use. The discussion looked at the difference between active and passive screen time and how digital exposure can affect child development. It also covered practical ways educators can be more intentional during the school day, including how and when screens are best used in class.
Sixth Tone: Chinese Regions Ease Weight of Biology and Geography on Zhongkao
Several regions in China are changing how the high school entrance exam, or zhongkao, is scored by removing biology and geography from the total. The move is intended to ease academic pressure on students as part of a wider effort to reduce burden in compulsory education. There is also some discussion around whether this will meaningfully lower pressure or simply shift it into other subjects and parts of the system.
The Korea Herald: Schools strain to support students with international backgrounds
Schools in South Korea are responding to a growing number of students with international backgrounds, and this article explores what schools are doing to provide the support systems they need. Preparatory classes and language support are helping students settle into school and participate more fully in learning. At the same time, many schools are working within limited staffing and support structures.
Schools in Singapore are expanding after-school enrichment through activities such as debate, journalism, design thinking, maths exploration, and science learning. Read about how these programmes are designed to support students beyond the standard curriculum in ways that feel more exploratory and discussion-based, and how schools are assessing pupils through schoolwork, teacher observation, and student interest rather than relying only on exam scores.
The Japan Times: 3,827 teacher positions unfilled across Japan: 2025 survey
Japan’s latest teacher shortage survey found 3,827 unfilled teaching positions across elementary, junior high, and high schools. The figures include 1,699 vacancies at elementary schools, 1,031 at junior high schools, and 508 at high schools, with especially sharp shortages in special-needs settings.