1. To start us off today, a recent post by Daisy Christodoulou on her blog, No More Marking, Does a university education help you earn more? Maybe, but not in the way that you think https://substack.nomoremarking.com/p/does-a-university-education-help

Over the last couple of weeks in the UK, there’s been a lot of controversy about student loans. Graduates have been posting their student loan balance statements on social media showing some punitive interest rates. That has spilled over into a wider debate about the economic value of university itself. If it is so expensive, is it worth it economically?

2. Here’s the latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025 PDF below.

The CPI ranks 182 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). While 31 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, the rest are failing to tackle the problem – they have stayed stagnant or got worse during the same period. The global average has fallen to a new low of 42, while more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. And people are paying the price, as corruption leads to under-funded hospitals, unbuilt flood defences and blights the hopes and dreams of young people.

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3. This NATESOL webinar with Michelle Worgan at 16:00 UK time next Thursday, 26^th February, is worth attending for the title alone, Teaching the Quiet Ones. More info and registration here https://www.natesol.org/event-details/teaching-the-quiet-ones-michelle-worgan

Introverted and shy learners often struggle in communicative classrooms, where extroverted norms dominate. Without intentional support, these students may disengage, losing confidence in their language-learning abilities. This session explores how educators can redefine connections with quieter learners by adapting classroom dynamics to be more inclusive. After identifying the barriers our quieter students may face, we’ll explore practical strategies for ensuring they are not just included but are able to thrive in the young (and not so young) learner classroom.

Are you listening, Tony Picot? You still haven’t let me have your postal address so I can send you your Iqbal Ahmed book raffle prize!

4. Two pieces for Persuasion by Quico Toro:

The Japanese Love Their Prime Minister: This Is Huge https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-japanese-love-their-prime-minister

‘An apolitical nation is genuinely excited about its new leader.’ So were we, weren’t we, many of us?

10 Observations About Tokyo: notes on the world’s most successful failing society https://www.persuasion.community/p/10-observations-about-tokyo

5. And, finally and mouth-wateringly, How to make the perfect chicken massaman from Felicity Cloake https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/feb/15/perfect-massaman-recipe-felicity-cloake Lots of good links to videos of Thai cooks cooking!