July 11, 2018
Government of India has relayed support for the BRICS member nations’ efforts to further deepen the collaborations in areas of research, innovation, technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
In this meeting of BRICS, India was allotted the key theme of ‘Digitization in Education’. Mr Singh showcased the significant strides which India has made in field of digitization of education to ensure access of education
The Indian HRD Minister advocated for introduction of scholarships and fellowships for the students from the BRICS nation to facilitate them to carry academic and research activities in identified thematic areas
The meeting culminated by signing of the Declaration of the 6th meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education. In the declaration members declared their commitment to the UN SDG 4 - Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education
Government of India has relayed support for the BRICS member nations’ efforts to further deepen the collaborations in areas of research, innovation, technical and vocational education and training (TVET). This has already led to improved student learning outcomes and employability in BRICS member states – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This comes as India’s junior minister for Human Resource Development, Satya Pal Singh, attended the 6th meeting of BRICS Education Ministers at Cape Town, South Africa. Beside Satya Pal Singh, Minister of Higher Education and Training of South Africa, GNM Pandor; Vice Minister, Ministry of Education, China, Zhiwen ZHU; State Secretary-Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Russia, Pavel Zenkowich and Head of International Affairs, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Leonordo Cardoso participated in the meeting.
In this meeting of BRICS, India was allotted the key theme of ‘Digitization in Education’. Mr Singh showcased the significant strides which India has made in field of digitization of education to ensure access of education to anyone, anytime and anywhere. He said the ‘Digital India’ initiative of the Government of India is at the fulcrum of the Digitization of Education. Minister Singh also highlighted India’s substantial progress in the areas of access of Higher Education. He mentioned that the Government considers ‘Education’ as a strategic priority, which relies on – Accessibility, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. He apprised to all present about the India’s initiatives such as SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, National Digital Library, National Academic Depository, E-Yantra, Virtual Labs, Operation Digital Board, E- Pathshala, Diksha, and Geographic information System (GIS).
In his concluding remark, Mr Singh said that BRICS Education Ministers have successfully identified several focus areas for education. The Minister advocated for introduction of scholarship/fellowship for the students of BRICS nation to facilitate them to carry academic and research activities in identified thematic areas. This will also lead to better collaboration among the faculty and students of BRICS nations. The suggestions were appreciated by all BRICS participating Education Ministers. It was unanimously decided that Declaration of 6th meeting of BRICS Education Ministers should incorporate above suggestions proposed by India. The meeting culminated by signing the Declaration of the 6th meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education, 2018. In the declaration Member States declared their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
SDG 4 aims to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all” that was set within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDG 4 – Education 2030 Framework for Action. Also to support an initiative by India to develop a proposal on digitisation to improve education and training, as well as policy in this area. This would include a comparative study of digital learning (e-learning) across schools, colleges and universities in BRICS Member States, with a view to, inter alia, learning and applying lessons from good practices.