STAFF REPORTER
BASIC Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, supported by Director-General Mathanzima Mweli, attended the G20 Intergovernmental Forum, which took place in Pune, India, last month.
The theme highlighted by the Indian G20 Presidency was: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future” during the meeting from 19 to 22 June 2023.
The Group of 20 Countries (G20) is a leading forum of major economies that seeks to develop global policies to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Due to South Africa’s advanced economy, South Africa became the first African country in the G20; and continues to be the only full member of the African continent. The Education Working Group (EWG) was established in 2018 under the Argentinian Presidency. Both the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) actively participate in this forum.
Minister Motshekga attended the G20 Education Ministers on 22 June, where she delivered a Statement on behalf of South Africa.
“As South Africa, we strongly contend that expanding objective cooperation and collaboration within the G20 Member States will promote and strengthen global responsiveness, as well as focused research and innovation in areas prioritised by this Forum.
We have developed several responses to support the intended upward trajectory of the education enterprise post-COVID, including a recovery programme to reboot the system to recover lost ground to use the lessons we learned, such as streamlining our curriculum, strengthening our e-learning platforms, also working with our teacher unions to develop teaching skills and competencies, to build back better.
We will continue to reflect on the four priority areas to improve and strengthen the development, implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation oversight of our national education legislation, policies and practices. This, we will do from primary education, including early childhood,” said Minister Motshekga, who represented the DBE and the DHET as one Ministry in the G20.
On the sidelines of the G20 Ministers of Education Meeting, Minister Motshekga held bilateral talks with the Minister of Education of Brazil, Mr Camilo Santana; the Second Minister for Education of Singapore, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman; and with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Education, HE Dr Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi. The Minister also met with the Deputy Secretary of the OECD, Mr Yoshiki Takeuchi.
INSIDE EDUCATION
