By Siviwe Gwarube
November marked a profound shift in global education diplomacy. From the historic G20 Leaders’ Summit held for the first time on African soil to the reaffirmation of cooperation at a general meeting of the Heads of State of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) on its sidelines, the world has signalled a growing commitment to strengthening the early foundations of learning.
For South Africa, this shift aligns strongly with our own strategic direction. Early in my term of office, I announced a reorientation of our basic education system towards improving learning foundations from birth through the early primary grades — focusing on early childhood care and education (ECCE) and early-grade literacy and numeracy.
This approach is grounded in clear global and local evidence: without decisive investment in the early years and the early grades, no education system can deliver equitable outcomes or close inequality gaps.
The signals emerging from the G20 and IBSA meetings affirm that South Africa’s strategic focus is timely, necessary and aligned with global best practice.
G20: A global mandate that reinforces South Africa’s reform direction
The G20 Leaders’ Declaration recognises ECCE as “a vital investment for a country’s social and economic future” and calls for strengthened teaching quality, improved pedagogical support and inclusive access to technology and safe learning
environments.
It also underscores the need to support teachers to strengthen early competencies, including literacy and numeracy — precisely the priorities at the heart of South Africa’s reforms.
In reorienting our basic education system, we are prioritising improved access to quality ECCE, strengthening early-grade literacy and numeracy, expanding structured pedagogical materials and practices, and supporting vulnerable learners early so that
gaps do not become entrenched.
The G20’s commitments show that these are not only national priorities — they are global ones. When the world’s major economies affirm the importance of early learning for economic growth, equality and long-term stability, it reinforces the evidence-based
path South Africa is taking.
IBSA: Global South leadership on early learning
In parallel, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, the Leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa endorsed the progress made by the IBSA Ministers of Education toward establishing the IBSA Network on Quality Foundational Learning.
Their commitment strengthens our shared resolve to ensure that every child develops strong early foundations — from early cognitive and socio-emotional development to early literacy and numeracy.
President Ramaphosa welcomed the deepening of IBSA collaboration on this agenda, which aligns closely with the G20’s renewed emphasis on expanding quality early learning.
As South Africa prepares to assume the IBSA Presidency in 2026, we welcome the call for urgency and ambition in advancing this work.
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 early learning systems that work for all children.
The IBSA Network will serve as a platform for countries committed to improving children’s learning from the earliest years through the early grades. While its modalities will be determined collectively by India, Brazil and South Africa, we believe there is value in gradually creating space for wider international engagement with countries, organisations and partners that share this vision.
A growing global consensus on strengthening early learning
Across both the G20 Declaration and the IBSA meeting, one message is clear: a global consensus is forming around the strategic importance of strengthening ECCE and early-grade learning.
Evidence has long shown that strong early learning drives later success, that early gaps quickly become entrenched inequalities, and that investments in the early years deliver the highest returns. This is why South Africa’s basic education strategy is being reoriented to strengthen early foundations — and why global alignment around these priorities strengthens our resolve.
South Africa’s commitment
The convergence of global momentum and national reform creates a powerful opportunity. Our domestic priorities sit squarely within the direction reaffirmed by G20 Leaders and endorsed by IBSA Heads of State.
As Minister of Basic Education, I reaffirm my commitment — and that of my Department — to ensuring that South Africa continues to lead in championing the early foundations of learning as the cornerstone of human development and economic growth.
The world is recognising what evidence has long shown: the foundations laid in the early years determine the future. South Africa is acting on this truth – and we intend to lead from the front.
Siviwe Gwarube is the Minister of Basic Education.
INSIDE EDUCATION
