The Union Minister for Education Subhas Sarkar chaired the G20 Education Working Group Meet that was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Thursday. The meeting was attended by over 60 delegates from 27 countries, and representatives from international organizations such as United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The task of the meeting was to underline the shared commitments of the G20 countries for improving the quality and outcomes of education.
In his inaugural address, Minister Sarkar noted the impact of emerging technological revolutions such as Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0 and Web 3.0 on the workplace, and emphasized the need to provide youth with the skills and attitudes to stay up-to-date. He urged all parties to collaborate to develop legal and sustainable solutions that could benefit society.
The meeting was preceded by a seminar and week-long multimedia exhibition on ‘Building Capacities, Promoting Life-Long Learning in the Context of Future of Work’ which was organized by the Ministry of Skill, Development and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Institute of Material and Mineral Technology (CSIR-IMMT). The seminar was attended by representatives from academia, industry and government, as well as the Singapore High Commission. Discussions were held on topics revolving around advanced technology and the logistic changes expected in the future of work.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education organized a series of ‘Jan Bhagidari’ month-long events such as rallies and competitions to raise awareness among the youth about the 3rd EdWG meeting. These events were held across 30 districts of Odisha, and garnered an encouraging participation of 1 lakh people from 35 institutions.
India aims to provide versatile skilling opportunities to equip the youth with the right capabilities to survive the ever-changing and highly competitive job market. Hence, the G20 Education Working Group Meet and the discussions that revolved around the same, is a good initiative to bundle the collective expertise of the G20 countries to achieve a common goal.
