The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, engaged with the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Ali Achoui, and the Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, Austin Gormley, in Pretoria on 27 March 2026. The engagement formed part of sustained diplomatic efforts to strengthen international cooperation within the education sector. These courtesy engagements serve as important platforms to foster relations with newly appointed ambassadors and to explore areas of mutual interest aligned with the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) strategic reform agenda.
In the Minister’s meeting with Ambassador Achoui, discussions centred on advancing diplomatic and sectoral collaboration between South Africa and Algeria. Although a formal bilateral programme between the DBE and Algeria has not yet been established, the engagement created a strategic opportunity to lay the foundation for structured cooperation in support of shared continental development objectives. Deliberations highlighted potential areas of collaboration, including curriculum development; teacher education and professionalisation; assessment reform; school leadership and management; and the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within the basic education sector. Additional areas of mutual interest include multilingual education; inclusive education; psychosocial support; early childhood development; school safety; and the advancement of digital learning. The engagement further reaffirmed the longstanding solidarity between South Africa and Algeria, underscoring a shared commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and promoting equity across the African continent.
The subsequent meeting with Ambassador Gormley, who was accompanied by Mr John Dundon, Deputy Head of Mission, focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Ireland. The discussions reaffirmed areas of collaboration previously identified during engagements on the margins of the G20 Ministers of Education Meeting. These included early childhood development; teacher training for educators supporting learners with special educational needs; multilingual education; and technical and vocational education and training. The meeting further reinforced a mutual commitment to advancing these priority areas through continued dialogue and the facilitation of structured engagements between the respective Ministries.
Both engagements reflected the overarching priorities of South Africa’s 7th Administration, particularly the imperative to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state; improve learning outcomes; strengthen teacher capacity; and equip learners with the competencies required for a rapidly evolving global economy. Minister Gwarube highlighted key reform initiatives currently being advanced by the DBE, including the strengthening of foundational learning; the expansion of teacher professional development through coaching and mentoring; the enhancement of curriculum relevance; the scaling of digital learning; the promotion of Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education; and the expansion of inclusive education.
Collectively, these diplomatic engagements mark a significant step towards deepening international partnerships in education. They provide a constructive platform to identify shared priorities; exchange best practices; and explore pathways towards formalised cooperation. Through these engagements, the DBE reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the quality of education through supporting educators, and advancing innovative, inclusive, and future-oriented learning systems that respond to both national priorities and broader continental aspirations.