By Johnathan Paoli
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has welcomed the endorsement by the leaders of India, Brazil, and South Africa for the establishment of the IBSA Network on Quality Foundational Learning, describing it as a significant step toward uniting Global South partners behind stronger early learning systems.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, where President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed the three countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation in foundational literacy, numeracy, and early childhood development.
Gwarube said the leaders’ acknowledgement of work undertaken by the three education ministries reinforced the priority placed on early cognitive, socio-emotional and foundational skills.
“I commit myself, my department and the whole country to playing a leading role in mobilising global support for quality foundational learning as the cornerstone of human development and economic growth,” she said.
The new Network will act as a collaborative platform, uniting IBSA countries in advancing strong early learning outcomes from the earliest years through the early primary grades.
While the full modalities of participation are still to be finalised jointly by the three nations, South Africa has already signaled that it sees value in enabling broader international collaboration over time.
The Basic Education Department believes that, through consensus, opportunities could be created for participation by other countries, development partners, international organisations and philanthropies working toward similar goals.
“South Africa stands ready to drive the next phase of cooperation, deepening the exchange of evidence-based policies and practical solutions across the Global South and beyond, and supporting stronger early learning systems that work for all children,” said the minister.
Ramaphosa echoed this sentiment during his remarks at the IBSA Leaders’ Dialogue, noting that the three countries were actively shaping global governance rather than merely participating in it, and that education cooperation would be integral to building a more equal and sustainable global future.
“I am therefore delighted that we will be signing a collaboration agreement on foundational learning as a follow up of the agreement that has been signed by the three IBSA Education Ministers,” he said.
The G20 Summit’s focus on quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), strengthened teaching, improved foundational competencies and more inclusive learning systems closely aligns with the objectives of the IBSA Network.
This alignment, Gwarube said, reflects growing global recognition that early childhood development and strong early-primary schooling were among the most important investments any country can make in its social and economic wellbeing.
The minister also noted that the Network’s ambitions dovetail with South Africa’s national priorities, including better learning environments, improved access to digital tools, strengthening teacher support and addressing the barriers facing children in rural and vulnerable communities. She said that strengthening teaching, improving instructional quality, expanding inclusive digital access and ensuring that no child is left behind remain central to this commitment.
The department plans to use the presidency to accelerate coordinated action across partner countries, ensure that the Network gains momentum, and position foundational learning as a driving force behind human development in the Global South.
She added that South Africa is honoured to lead this effort at a time when global education systems face persistent inequalities, learning losses and resource constraints.
The Network, she explained, will serve as a mechanism to share innovations, strengthen capacity and build more resilient early learning systems capable of supporting every child to develop strong literacy and numeracy foundations.
With IBSA education ministers already having signed a cooperation agreement earlier in the year, Gwarube said the leaders’ endorsement at the G20 Summit strengthens momentum for implementation.
The department said it will focus on outlining the Network’s structure, establishing areas of joint work, and expanding mechanisms for technical exchange among the three countries.
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