Education reform remains one of the key focus areas under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which came into effect from 1 December 2024, and will culminate in the Leaders’ Summit in 2025. South Africa will play the G20 presidency role until November 2025, under the theme, Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube and Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, co-hosted the G20 Ministerial Breakfast for the Education Working Group (EdWG) to update the G20 member states on several priorities set out in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The Ministerial Breakfast, which was attended by Ambassadors and High Commissioners from G20 Member States, took place at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, Western Cape Province on 10 February 2025.
Addressing the G20 delegation, Minister Nkabane congratulated the Federative Republic of Brazil for hosting a successful G20 Presidency during 2024 and welcomed the United States of America for joining the troika as the next G20 Presidency after South Africa: “The diplomatic community of the G20 Member States plays an important role in conveying our G20 plans to the Ministries of Education in your respective governments. We also acknowledge the presence of guest countries that are invited to participate during our G20 Presidency. We have intentionally chosen the theme of our G20 Presidency to address inequalities in the society. The persisting inequalities amongst and within the nations of the world remain a concern and education serves as a catalyst to address these inequalities. This can only be done if our citizens have equal access to education and skills development programmes in order to make meaningful contributions to their sustainable livelihood and to global development”.
She further added that the G20 Education Working Group was strategically placed to support the work of all other Working Groups because of the importance of education and skills development in all sectors of society and the economy. “South Africa has identified the following three priority areas under its G20 presidency; Quality Foundational Learning, Mutual Recognition of Qualifications and Education Professional Development for a Changing World. The three priority areas cut across the spectrum of basic and post school education and training. Education Professional Development for a Changing World as one of the identified priorities of the Working Group, must discuss strategies to equip lecturers in higher education institutions such as universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges and other Community Education and Training centres. Well-equipped teachers are required to become key drivers of Early Childhood Development Curriculum delivery and foundational learning entirely. Mutual Recognition of Qualifications in the Global Context is another way to promote skills mobility activities within the International community,” added Minister Nkabane.
Minister Gwarube expressed her gratitude to the Ambassadors and High Commissioners from G20 Member States for honouring the Ministerial Breakfast invitation. According to Minister Gwarube, G20 Presidency under the purview of South Africa will complement the South African Government’s efforts towards benchmarking its education system at the international level. The expansion of ECD universal access amongst children at zero to 6 years of age remains paramount to us as a sector. The G20 presidency gives us an opportunity to share best practices with the rest of the world. I would like to thank the G20 Education Working Group for making this event a success. We look forward to robust engagements in the proposed priorities to ensure that our education system is amplified to deliver education of the highest quality as outlined in the National Development Plan,” said Minister Gwarube.
The G20 Education Working Group is currently preparing for a G20 engagement session for the Ministers of Education from various G20 member states, which will take place in the Mpumalanga Province later this year.