PM Modi calls for global collaboration in education at G20 Education Ministers' Meet

In a significant address delivered via video message at the G20 Education Ministers' Meet held in Pune, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (June 22, 2023) emphasized the critical need for global collaboration in education. He emphasized the crucial role that education plays in establishing civilization and shaping the course of human history.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi alluded to the Education Ministers as the Sherpas guiding humanity toward wealth, peace, and progress for all. He used a passage from an old Sanskrit Shlok that describes the transformational force of real knowledge to draw attention to the tremendous importance of education in providing joy.

PM Modi talked passionately about the nation's all-encompassing and holistic educational journey, highlighting the significance of basic literacy as a solid basis for young people's development.

He expressed his satisfaction that the G20 had also recognized "Foundational Literacy and Numeracy" as a priority, aligning with India's own "National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy," commonly known as the "Nipun Bharat" initiative. The Prime Minister urged swift and time-bound action to achieve these goals by 2030.

In order to deliver high-quality education and improved governance, PM Modi underlined the need to embrace and use cutting-edge e-learning techniques.

He emphasized a number of government-sponsored programs in India, such as the "Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds" (Swayam) platform that offers online education possibilities for students, focusing on accessibility, equity, and quality, from ninth grade to post-graduate levels. PM Modi highlighted its success, with over 34 million enrollments and more than 9,000 courses available.

Prime Minister Modi also brought up the "Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Exchange" (Diksha Portal), a project that aims to provide schooling via distance learning. With an amazing track record of more than 137 million course completions to date, he explained that the platform facilitates study in 29 Indian and 7 foreign languages. He also stated that India was eager to share its resources and expertise, particularly with countries in the Global South.

Prime Minister Modi underlined the significance of continual skilling, reskilling, and upskilling to guarantee that the youth are prepared for the future. He also emphasized how skills should change with changing job profiles and practices. He highlighted India's own efforts in skill mapping, which were coordinated by the Ministries of Education, Skill, and Labor.

In order to identify talent shortages that require collective attention, the prime minister further suggested that G20 nations carry out an international skill mapping project.

PM Modi emphasized how important digital technology is for promoting diversity in education and acting as an equalizer.

He underlined its potential to increase access and accommodate future requirements by acting as a force multiplier. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also discussed as having immense potential in the fields of learning, skilling, and education.

Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of striking the right balance between the opportunities and challenges posed by technology, with the G20 playing a crucial role in achieving this equilibrium.

Turning the spotlight on research and innovation, PM Modi proudly shared India's accomplishment of establishing ten thousand 'Atal Tinkering Labs' across the country. These labs act as nurturing grounds for research and innovation among schoolchildren, with more than 7.5 million students currently engaged in over 1.2 million innovative projects.

He called upon the G20 countries, with their respective strengths, to foster research collaborations, particularly in the Global South.