India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership in the G20. Pradhan commended PM Modi for his inclusive vision, specifically highlighting India’s efforts to include the African Union (AU) in the G20. He believes that this move has democratized the G20 and amplified the voice of the Global South.
Pradhan praised PM Modi’s clear narrative and leadership in advancing the global education agenda within the G20 framework. As a result, India’s education and skill ecosystem has gained recognition and endorsement on the world stage, aligning with the principles and priorities outlined in India’s National Education Policy 2020.
Under India’s presidency, the G20 emphasized key educational priorities in their Leaders’ Declaration. These priorities include foundational literacy and numeracy, tech-enabled learning, lifelong learning and the future of work, as well as research and innovation through collaboration. This renewed global commitment to education provides a roadmap for an equitable and sustainable future.
The Leaders’ Declaration also aligns with the education working group priorities, focusing on digital transformation, just green transition, and women-led development. It emphasizes the need for women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes, digital infrastructure development in education, and the promotion of accessible, affordable, safe, and nutritious food in school meal programs.
Pradhan highlighted the follow-up actions taken after the G20 Education Working Group meetings. India is actively engaging in research collaborations with several countries, including joint initiatives with the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Council) and the Association of American Universities (AAU) to establish the India-U.S. Global Challenges Institute. These collaborations aim to advance science and technology research in areas such as sustainable energy, agriculture, health, pandemic preparedness, and more.
Furthermore, India is exploring university-level collaborations with countries like Australia, UAE, Taiwan, and the UK in critical areas. In the skill sector, India is focusing on creating an International Reference Classification of occupations to standardize skill and qualification requirements for better cross-country comparability and mutual recognition of qualifications. This commitment also includes establishing well-managed, skills-based migration pathways that benefit both origin and destination countries.
India’s G20 presidency has provided a platform for the country to showcase its education priorities, contextual realities, and national initiatives. Through collaboration and innovative approaches, India and its G20 partners have sparked coordinated action towards building future-oriented education systems.
Overall, Pradhan’s remarks signify India’s commitment to advancing education agendas within the G20 and its dedication to equitable and sustainable global education. PM Modi’s visionary leadership has propelled India’s education and skill ecosystem onto the world stage, garnering recognition and support from international partners.
