ELSA’s co-founders – language-testing experts Sandy Bhangal, Stephen Carey, Karen Ottewell and Mir Rahman – are hailing the formation of the body as filling a “critical gap in the sector by providing impartial, expert-led insights on the quality and integrity of English language tests used worldwide”.

They said that the need for “unbiased oversight” over the ELT sector “has never been greater” as the need for reliable language tests for university admissions, immigration and employment grows.

“Our mission is simple: to help institutions, educators, and policymakers globally make informed, evidence-based decisions about language testing,” said Ottewell.

“Until now, there has been no independent authority focused solely on the standards and fairness of English language assessments. When selecting which English language tests to accept, institutions have a duty of care – to their own admissions standards, but especially to the international applicants they are seeking to attract. ELSA is here to change that.”

When selecting which English language tests to accept, institutions have a duty of care – to their own admissions standards, but especially to the international applicants they are seeking to attract
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ELSA will offer consultation and advisory services to institutions on how to select and implement English language tests, independent test reviews and language assessment literacy (LAL) training programs for educators, administrators and policymakers.

Its three co-founders have a combined 100+ years of experience in applied linguistic and language assessment. The body hopes to become “the go-to authority for objective and transparent insights in an often opaque ad commercially driven landscape”.

ELSA’s formation comes against a backdrop of major change for language testing in the UK, as the Home Office looks to commission a single government-backed test.

Most recently, the government released a fifth request for information from the sector as part of the ongoing tender, this time exploring digital testing as the primary mode of delivery.

Sweden is to implement a nationwide mobile phone ban in all schools in an attempt to improve security and study conditions for students.

From the next school year, starting in autumn 2026, it will be compulsory for all schools and after-school clubs to collect students’ phones and hold them until the end of the day.

The new rule, which will affect children between the ages of seven and 16, is part of a package of proposed measures announced by the government on Tuesday.

As well as the phone ban, proposed changes will cover the curriculum, the grading system and teacher training.

“What we are presenting today is a historic budget investment in schools and the biggest reform agenda in over 30 years,” said Sweden’s new education and schools minister, Simona Mohamsson.

The budget bill, which the government will submit next week, allocates 95m kronor (£7.52m) for 2026 and 100m kronor the following year to implement the phone ban.

Most schools in Sweden already confiscate mobile phones at the start of the school day, but students have found ways to get around the ban such as handing in a fake phone or saying that they have forgotten their phone or that it is broken.

“This should apply to everyone in all of Sweden’s classrooms. It applies to every young person in Sweden and is not optional,” Mohamsson, who is leader of the Liberals party, has previously said of the ban.

Earlier this year, Denmark said it would ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs on the recommendation of a government commission that also found children under 13 should not have their own smartphone or tablet.

Norway last year announced a strict minimum age of 15 on social media use as the government accused tech companies of being “pitted against small children’s brains”.

Recent research in the Netherlands, which in January 2014 issued national guidelines recommending a ban on smartphones in classrooms, with which almost all Dutch schools have complied, has found improvements to the learning environment. The vast majority (75%) of secondary schools surveyed said that children found it easier to concentrate and 28% said results had improved.

France, meanwhile, tightened its ban on mobile phones in middle schools in September.

Google’s $37 million investment in African artificial intelligence represents a significant recognition of the continent’s growing technological capabilities and its potential to lead global AI innovation while addressing uniquely African challenges through homegrown solutions.

This substantial commitment acknowledges what African tech leaders have long known: the continent possesses the talent, creativity, and market understanding necessary to develop AI solutions that can transform not only African communities but serve as models for emerging economies worldwide.

Empowering African Agricultural Innovation

The centerpiece of Google’s investment, a $25 million commitment to the AI Collaborative Food Security Initiative, recognizes Africa’s agricultural expertise and the continent’s capacity to revolutionize farming through technology. Rather than importing external solutions, this initiative will support African innovators in developing AI tools specifically designed for the continent’s diverse agricultural contexts.

African farmers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation for generations. Now, with AI support, they will have access to advanced hunger forecasting systems, enhanced crop resilience technologies, and sophisticated tools to address climate-related threats. This represents a technological leap that builds upon existing African agricultural knowledge while positioning the continent’s farmers as leaders in sustainable, tech-enabled farming practices.

The initiative will enable African agricultural communities to predict and prevent food crises, optimize crop yields, and develop climate-adaptive farming strategies that could serve as models for agricultural regions globally. This approach recognizes that African farmers are not recipients of aid but innovators capable of developing solutions that address complex agricultural challenges.

Building Africa’s AI Workforce

Google’s $7 million investment in AI education across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa reflects the recognition of Africa’s vast human capital potential. These four nations represent some of the continent’s most dynamic tech ecosystems, with young, educated populations eager to participate in the global digital economy.

The 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships represent more than educational opportunity; they constitute an investment in Africa’s future as a global AI powerhouse. African youth have consistently demonstrated their ability to leverage technology for innovation, from Kenya’s mobile money revolution to Nigeria’s thriving fintech sector. This educational investment will accelerate Africa’s transition from technology consumer to technology creator.

These programs will prepare African youth not just for employment in the global digital economy, but for leadership roles in shaping how AI develops and serves diverse global communities. African perspectives on AI development are crucial for ensuring that artificial intelligence serves humanity broadly rather than reflecting narrow technological viewpoints.

Preserving and Advancing African Linguistic Heritage

The $3 million investment in the Masakhane African Languages AI Hub represents a profound recognition of Africa’s linguistic diversity as a strength rather than a barrier. With support for more than 40 African languages, this initiative positions the continent as a leader in multilingual AI development.

African languages represent sophisticated communication systems that encode unique ways of understanding the world. By ensuring these languages are represented in AI systems, the Masakhane Hub is not just preserving cultural heritage but contributing to global AI development by incorporating diverse linguistic structures and knowledge systems.

This language technology will eliminate barriers that have historically excluded African communities from digital opportunities in education, healthcare, and finance. More importantly, it ensures that as AI systems develop globally, they incorporate African ways of thinking and communicating, making AI more inclusive and representative of human diversity.

Establishing Africa as an AI Research Hub

The $1 million grants to the University of Pretoria’s AfriDSAI and Wits MIND Institute represent investments in Africa’s intellectual capacity and research excellence. These institutions have already demonstrated their ability to contribute meaningfully to global AI research while addressing African-specific challenges.

By supporting graduate students and researchers at these institutions, Google is investing in a generation of African AI scientists who will shape global AI development from African perspectives. This positions Africa not as a beneficiary of international AI development but as a contributor to and leader in global AI innovation.

These research centers will develop AI solutions that reflect African values, address African challenges, and contribute African insights to global AI development. This approach recognizes that the best AI solutions often come from diverse teams working on diverse problems with diverse perspectives.

Africa’s Technological Renaissance

Google’s investment comes at a time when Africa is experiencing unprecedented technological growth and innovation. From fintech solutions that serve previously unbanked populations to agricultural technologies that increase food security, African innovators have consistently demonstrated their ability to develop solutions that address complex challenges.

This AI investment represents recognition of Africa’s evolution from technology consumer to technology creator. The continent’s young, dynamic population, combined with its complex challenges and diverse markets, provides an ideal environment for developing innovative AI solutions that can scale globally.

African countries have already demonstrated leadership in mobile technology adoption, financial inclusion, and sustainable development. AI represents the next frontier where African innovation can lead global development rather than follow it.

Leading Global AI Development

Rather than simply addressing poverty through external intervention, this Google investment empowers African innovators to develop their own solutions to continental challenges. This approach recognizes that sustainable development comes from within, supported by partnerships that respect local expertise and leadership.

The initiative positions Africa to influence global AI development by ensuring that artificial intelligence serves diverse communities, incorporates multiple perspectives, and addresses the challenges faced by the majority of the world’s population. African AI innovation will contribute to global solutions while addressing specifically African needs.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Africa is positioning itself not as a recipient of technological change but as a driver of it. Google’s investment represents recognition of this potential and a commitment to supporting African leadership in the global AI revolution.