Since assuming the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, South Africa has placed education at the heart of its agenda, prioritising quality foundational learning, mutual recognition of qualifications, and education professional development. This week, two major events—the G20 Education Seminar at UNISA and the Free State G20 Education Indaba—demonstrated the country’s commitment to taking the G20 to the people and transforming education from the ground up.
G20@UNISA: A Call for Shared Stewardship
On Tuesday, 12 August 2025, the University of South Africa (UNISA), in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), hosted a high-level G20 Education Seminar at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria. The event brought together colleges of education from public higher education institutions to explore their role in preparing future teachers for a rapidly changing world.
Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, delivered a keynote address, calling for a new era of shared stewardship between the DBE and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET): “The G20 education iziNdaba have made it clear that the success of the South African education system lies in the cooperation between DBE and DHET. Faculties of education hold a noble and urgent mandate to prepare educators who are future-fit, contextually responsive, and professionally resilient.”
She outlined six strategic areas for deeper collaboration:
- Policy Alignment and Responsiveness – Ensuring Initial Teacher Education programmes reflect national priorities and emerging needs.
- Professional Learning Communities – Creating spaces for DBE specialists and university academics to co-develop curriculum delivery.
- Teacher Supply and Demand Planning – Aligning specialisations with system needs, especially in foundational learning.
- Strengthening Work-Integrated Learning – Enhancing practicum quality and consistency through joint frameworks.
- Seamless Induction and CPD Pathways – Bridging preservice training with ongoing professional development.
- Joint Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research – Leveraging system data and academic expertise to ground reforms in evidence.
“We must move from parallel efforts to true partnership—where accountability is reciprocal and leadership is collective,” Minister Gwarube urged.
Free State G20 Indaba: Local Voices, Global Vision
On Thursday, 14 August 2025, the Free State Department of Education hosted the G20 Provincial Education Indaba at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein. This was the seventh in a series of provincial G20 education dialogues held since April 2025, all leading up to the National G20 Basic Education Indaba scheduled for 25 August in the Western Cape.
The Indaba focused on two critical priorities:
- Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as a foundation for lifelong learning
- Teacher development in the context of digital transformation and AI integration
Minister Gwarube, delivering the keynote once again, emphasised the urgency of foundational education: “The battle for economic justice begins in the early years of a child’s life.”
Panel discussions explored how to build a skilled ECCE workforce, support teacher wellbeing, and integrate technology meaningfully into classrooms. Delegates called for stronger synergy between DBE and DHET, particularly in aligning teacher training programmes with foundational learning goals.
A National Compact for Education Reform
Both events underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors—from universities and NGOs to provincial departments and international partners. Colleges of education reaffirmed their commitment to working with the DBE to realise the G20 EdWG priorities.
With two more provincial Indabas scheduled in the Western Cape (18 August) and Eastern Cape (20–21 August), South Africa’s education sector is building a unified, inclusive, and forward-looking response to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
“The G20 is asking for transformative leadership. Our teachers are stepping into classrooms shaped by artificial intelligence, climate change, migration, and economic uncertainty. A coordinated approach is needed to ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to empower young minds,” Minister Gwarube concluded.