Education news from around the world

Who said philosophical discussions are only meant for old men? A study named “philosophy for children,” in which 3,000 students from 48 state primary schools across England took part, has come up with an interesting find. The year-long study found that the math and reading levels of students improved after discussions about truth, fairness or kindness were conducted. Though the experts are puzzled over the improvement of these unrelated areas after the open-ended discussions, some suggest that this could be due to the fact that the children were more engaged and “found school more enjoyable.”

As part of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s African Business Education Initiative for the Youth, Japan will be sponsoring 10 Ghana officials to pursue their master’s programme in Japanese universities, according to reports. The scholarship is targeting exceptionally talented young government officials who are expected to help in formulating and implementing development plans for Ghana’s prosperity. The officials will get trained in select areas including public health, economics, agriculture and energy.

Difficulty in recruiting overseas staff and students due to the debate around immigration is “one of the biggest threats” being faced by U.K. universities, says Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, head of Cambridge University. Borysiewicz described the U.K. government's inclusion of overseas students in the country’s net migration targets as “ludicrous” and “crazy,” according to reports. He is of the opinion that migrants help in revitalising the economy and bring innovation.