Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, will this week host the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) Education Senior Officials Meeting and the 10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education in Mpumalanga.
The BRICS education engagements, taking place from 12 – 13 July 2023, are hosted as part of the build-up to the 15th BRICS Summit to be chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2023.
The official meeting will be held under the theme, ‘Responsive and Relevant Education and Training in the Current Global Context’.
The department said at the conclusion of the meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education, the Ministers will adopt a declaration, which makes firm commitments on eight thematic areas that have been identified.
These areas include climate change, entrepreneurship development, skills, mutual recognition of qualifications, out-of-school youth, labour market intelligence, university global ranking and early childhood development.
The two engagements will be preceded by the BRICS TVET [technical vocational education and training] Institution President Seminar, taking place at Ekurhuleni West TVET College from 11 – 13 July 2023.
“In recognition of this year’s focus on BRICS and Africa, South Africa has invited the Ministers of Education from Mozambique and Namibia as guests of our BRICS education meetings.
“BRICS Ministers of Education will also consider and reflect on the outcomes of the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance and BRICS Network University Seminars,” the department said in a statement.
During the 9th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education, held in May last year, Nzimande reaffirmed the BRICS countries’ commitment to implementing the UN Education 2030 Agenda, promoting education accessibility and equity, and accelerating the development of quality education and training.
They also committed to encourage exchanges among youth from the bloc, strengthening the cultivation of knowledge on sustainable development and providing BRICS contributions for global governance.
Source: South African Government News Agency