Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, supported by Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli and the South African delegation, participated at the 2025 Education World Forum (EWF) from 18 to 21 May 2025 in London, United Kingdom. The EWF was also attended by Dr Mafu Rakometsi, Chief Executive Officer of UMALUSI; Ms Nombulelo Nxesi, Chief Executive Officer of the ETDP-SETA; Dr Cindy Foca, Chief Executive Officer of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC); and Dr Luvuyo Bono, Chairperson of the ELRC.

The EWF is the world’s largest annual education gathering. The forum brought together Ministers of Education and Skills to share the education system challenges they face, the solutions they have found, the learning that has occurred, and the successes they have achieved. The theme for the EWF 2025 is, “From Stability to Growth: Building Stronger Bolder Better Education Together”.

In her address to the EWF, Minister Gwarube shared the work South Africa is doing to expand access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) and improve the quality of education outcomes in the foundational learning years: “If we get our foundations right, we will set up more learners to participate and excel in gateway subjects, like Mathematics, Science, Accounting, and Economics”.

Minister Gwarube hosted a EWF Innovative Finance Dinner for delegates of the Education World Forum, supported by the South African High Commission in the United Kingdom, British Council South Africa, ETDP SETA, UMALUSI, and the ELRC. In her address, the Minister invited delegates to reflect on the most urgent question facing education systems around the world: “How to finance quality education in an era of shrinking budgets and growing needs?” Discussions focused on innovative schooling resourcing strategies in the face of fiscal constraints.