'CHOGM 2026 is our moment to shape what comes next' - Secretary-General

26 October 2026 | Commonwealth Secretariat

World leaders will gather in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, next week for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) with a call to accelerate partnerships and investment in the interest of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people. "The world is changing and CHOGM 2026 is our moment to shape what comes next. We have 2.7 billion reasons to act," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon Shirley Botchwey. The summit, which takes place from 1-4 November, is the first CHOGM under her leadership. 

Learning to accelerate in partnership:

CHOGM 2026

November 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning

To support the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda (CHOGM 2026) under the theme Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Learning proposes 15 talking points for consideration, with 12 concrete opportunities to act. Building upon the mandate from Heads at CHOGM 2024 and the Gaborone Statement on Open Education from the 11th Pan-Commonwealth Forum (2025), COL continues to act and work with governments to seize these opportunities.

Fiji can turn economic recovery into stronger, more resilient growth: World Bank

28 October 2026 | The World Bank

Fiji has made important economic progress since the pandemic, but its room to respond to future shocks is narrowing. Sustaining stronger growth will require higher productivity, stronger investment, enhanced fiscal discipline, and a broader economy according to the World Bank Group’s first Fiji Economic Update released today in Suva. Launched in partnership with the University of the South Pacific, the report — titled “Creating Fiscal Space to Accelerate Growth" — projects the economy will grow by 2.1 percent in 2026 before recovering to 3.0 percent by 2028. 

NUC develops guidelines on micro-credentials to bridge skills gaps, boost employability

15 October 2026 | Nigerian Tribune

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced the development of national guidelines on micro-credentials for Nigerian universities to promote flexible learning, bridge skills gaps and strengthen graduates’ employability. The guidelines are expected to provide a uniform framework for the design, delivery, assessment, certification and recognition of short, skills-focused learning programmes across the Nigerian university system.

Namibia launches 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report through national dialogue

on access and equity

28 October 2026 | UNESCO

Namibia has launched the 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on Access and Equity during a national policy dialogue examining persistent inequalities in education and ways to ensure that every learner has a fair opportunity to access, progress through and complete their education. The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Honourable Dino Ballotti, officially launched the report at the University of Namibia’s (UNAM) Khomasdal Campus in Windhoek on 30 September 2026.

Micro-credential in nursing launched to strengthen patient safety and communication

26 October 2026 | Government Information Service, Mauritius

The micro-credentials training programme, ‘Use of Communication Tools in Nursing’, aimed at strengthening the communication skills of nursing, medical and administrative staff of Premium Care Clinic, was launched this morning in Phoenix in the presence of the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, the Honourable Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon. Among the attendees were the World Health Organization (WHO) Resident Representative to Mauritius, Dr Abdou Salam Gueye; the Commissioner of the Higher Education Commission, Professor Romeela Mohee; the Chairperson of Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd, Dr Tomal Kumar Chadeea; its Officer-in-Charge, Mr Suryakant Caleechurn; and the Chief Operating Officer of Premium Care Clinic, Mr Donald Ha Yeung.

Gabon economic update 2026: Investing in education and skills for more and better jobs and inclusive growth

27 October 2026 | The World Bank

Gabon’s vast natural resources and young, largely urban population hold a significant economic potential. However, mounting fiscal pressures, learning and skills deficits, and a labor market unable to match educated youth with quality jobs underscore the urgency of fiscal, economic, and education reforms. The 2026 Gabon Economic Update assesses the country’s recent macroeconomic developments, with this year’s special topic focused on education and skills development for jobs.

CPCE makes history with first batch of CVQ certified teachers

20 October 2026 | Guyana Chronicle

As the government continues to push for the advancement of technical and vocational education training across the country, the Cyril Potter College of Education presented certificates in Caribbean Vocational Qualification to 96 teachers, who completed the programme, at its Turkeyen Campus on Monday. The training was the first of its kind at the college and in Guyana, making this the inaugural closing ceremony for the programme.

Director NAAC inaugurated Commonwealth Asia Graduate Employability International Workshop at GNDU, Amritsar

27 October 2026 | 5 Dariya News, India

Guru Nanak Dev University, in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning–Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), New Delhi, commenced the three-day Commonwealth Asia Graduate Employability Workshop under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh at GNDU. Dedicated to 450th Anniversary of Sri Amritsar Sahib, the workshop is inaugurated by Prof (Dr) Ganesan Kannabiran, Director, NAAC (National assessment and accreditation Council) and Prof B. Shadrach, Director COL-CEMCA along with Prof (Dr) Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GNDU, Amritsar.

BOU to be modernised to expand education access, develop skilled workforce: Milon

28 October 2026 | BSS News, Bangladesh

Bangladesh Open University (BOU) will be made more up-to-date to create educational opportunities for all and develop skilled human resources, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said today. “The Open University was not established merely to award certificates; rather, its objective was to create educational opportunities for everyone and equip them with skills,” he said while addressing a discussion marking the 34th founding anniversary of BOU.

TVET 2.0 to chart new direction for national TVET transformation, says Zahid

27 October 2026 | The Star, Malaysia

The development of TVET 2.0 for the 2026-2035 period will chart a new direction for transforming the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem, said Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National TVET Council, said four rounds of engagement sessions had been carried out in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Pahang, involving 256 participants.

Pan-Caribbean Youth Robotics Innovation Project for Blue-Green Resilience and Prosperity

October 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning

The Youth Robotics for Blue-Green Resilience and Prosperity Project is a Commonwealth of Learning pilot in the Caribbean that brings young people from across the region together to explore real development challenges and how technology, research, communication, and advocacy can contribute to practical solutions. The youth participants are joining international and regional stakeholders in Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026. In collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the young innovators and their mentors will showcase their prototypes and solutions at the Youth Forum on 3 November, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

WiSE webinar: Gender and STEM in

higher education

30 October 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning

On 5 November, the Women in STEM (WiSE) Community of Practice webinar series returns with a session exploring systems change for gender equality in STEM in higher education. Featuring two science educators at different stages of their careers, the discussion will draw on lived experiences, teaching and research to examine gender bias in pedagogy and practice, opportunities for systemic change, and the role of personal agency in advancing gender equality in STEM education.

Feeding the future: Why women cannot be

left behind

30 October 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning

In 2025, about 645 million people faced hunger. That’s nearly one in every 13 people on the planet. Food is the most basic of human needs, but climate change, conflict, supply-chain disruptions and an increasingly multipolar geopolitical order are placing strain on global food systems, making it more difficult to produce enough affordable and nutritious food for everyone. Across the Commonwealth, many member countries carry a heavy share of the world’s food insecurity burden.