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In line with its predecessors, the G20 Declaration released Saturday reiterated members’ commitment to “inclusive, equitable, high-quality,” education, while taking a step forward in advocating use of technology and AI to improve and ensure last-mile delivery of education.
“We reiterate our commitment to harness digital technologies to overcome digital divides for all learners. We extend support to educational institutions and teachers to enable them to keep pace with emerging trends and technological advances including AI,” the declaration stated.
It also emphasised the “importance of enabling life-long learning focused on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling, especially for vulnerable groups”.
Declarations in the past have consistently endorsed the commitment of member-nations to provide inclusive, equitable education and life-long learning, with a keen focus on disadvantaged groups. They have acknowledged the crucial role played by blended learning approaches during the pandemic.
The declaration recognised “the importance of foundational learning — literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills — as the primary building block of education and employment”. It reaffirmed the commitment of member-nations to foster greater collaborations between their educational institutions. “We reaffirm our commitment to promote open, equitable and secure scientific collaboration and encourage mobility of students, scholars, researchers, and scientists across research and higher education institutions,” the declaration stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Biden had welcomed increasing partnerships between Indian and US universities in Friday’s bilateral meeting.
The declaration stated the commitment of members to expand access to “high-quality technical and vocational education and training”.
Following on from the declaration in Bali last year, the New Delhi declaration also addressed the gender divide in education, and reasserted its commitment to bridge it.
“We ensure equal access to affordable, inclusive, equitable, safe and quality education from early childhood through higher education to lifelong learning and support the greater enrolment, participation and leadership of all women and girls, including those with disabilities, in STEM fields and in emerging digital technologies,” the declaration read.
