The DBE and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) have successfully hosted yet another G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) Meeting in preparation for the G20 Education Ministerial Meeting scheduled for October 2025. The EdWG meeting took place at The Capital Zimbali Resort in the KwaZulu-Natal Province from 2 to 3 July 2025. The focus of the Meeting was for the G20 EdWG delegates to deliberate on Education Professional Development For a Changing World, identified as EdWG’s Priority Three. Other priorities include Quality Foundational Learning and Mutual Recognition of Qualifications in a Global Context and were tabled for discussion during the second G20 EdWG meeting held at the Sun City Resort in the North West Province in May 2025. The third G20 EdWG meeting was co-chaired by Directors-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, representing the DBE and Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, representing the DHET.
According to the members of the G20 EdWG, the global expansion of schooling has shifted the focus from access to enhancing learning quality, with teacher preparation and professional development as key priorities. The discussion during the meeting paid attention to the urgent need to supply sufficient teachers as mandated by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.C, urging Government to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; positioning professional development as a lifelong learning process, supporting teacher retention and strengthening the workforce; and equipping teachers with 21st Century competencies, ensuring they are prepared for evolving educational needs. The members of the G20 EdWG reaffirmed their commitment towards strengthening teacher professional development as a necessary intervention to sustain the dignity of the teaching profession within the international community.
Reflecting on the state of teacher shortages globally, the meeting learnt that global teacher shortages persist across both high and low-income countries. To meet SDG 4.C by 2030, an additional 44 million teachers (13 million at the primary level and 31 million at the secondary level) are projected to be required globally. Of the 44 million, 18.5 million, or just under half, are needed to replace existing teachers who are leaving the workforce. Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant teacher shortages, with a projected need for 15 million additional teachers (4.4 million at primary level and 10.6 million at secondary level). The proportion of qualified teachers in sub-Saharan Africa has steadily declined since 2000 at both the primary and secondary levels. The ratio of pupils to trained teachers remains high, delegates confirmed. They congratulated South Africa for showing success in coordinating EdWG activities under its G20 presidency, saying that collaborative efforts on matters arising from the EdWG meetings will transform the global education systems for the better. The delegates also indicated that although G20 countries differ in terms of economic growth, the issue of teacher shortages is a global crisis that could not be underestimated.
DG Mweli said that the shocking state of global teacher shortages will be successfully addressed if the G20 countries continue to share best practice: “The insights shared throughout this meeting should enlighten us to identify working strategies in strengthening teacher development at primary and secondary level, with emphasis on gender equity in the global education systems. As G20 EdWG members, we are expected to work harder to ensure that teacher training and recruitment are aligned with the demands of a changing world. In other words, our interventions in supporting primary, secondary and tertiary education should be integrated in such a manner that we are able to close teacher supply gaps where identified”.