EDUCATION MINISTERS’ MEETING OF G20 IN BALI

• Recently, the Minister of Education addressed the G-20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
• Theme: Recovery, Re-imagine and Rebuild Stronger.
• The G20 presidency is scheduled to move from Indonesia to India in December 2022.

Key Highlights

• Emphasized on the importance of sharing mutual experiences & working together to create a new world in which education remains the nodal point for addressing common challenges.
• The National Education Policy 2020, based on the foundational principles of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability is India’s guiding light for promoting lifelong learning opportunities and achieving the shared vision of G20.
• Highlighted India’s rapid strides towards building a more resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem and realising the creative potential of each learner through the implementation of NEP 2020.
• India is giving special emphasis on formalizing early childhood care & education, supporting differently-abled children, boosting digital and multi-modal learning, flexible entry-exit pathways, integrating education with skills, which are keys to improve learning outcomes. 

G20

• It is a group of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), founded in 1999, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
• Its members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the EU.
• Nigeria was meant to be the “20th” member and was dropped at the last minute due to political troubles at the time.
• The membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population.
• The G20 holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity.
• Together, the G20 members represent more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of international trade and 60% of the world population.

Functioning of G20:

• The G-20 has no fixed headquarters, and the secretariat moves by rotation between the countries hosting or assuming Presidency of the grouping each year.
• The members are divided into five groups (India is in Group 2, along with Russia, South Africa and Turkey).
• The G-20 agenda that still depends heavily on the guidance of Finance Ministers and central Governors is finalised by a unique system of ‘Sherpas’, who are special envoys of G-20 leaders.
• Another feature of the G-20 is ‘Troika’ meetings, comprising the countries presiding over the G-20 in the past year, present year, and next year. At present, the Troika is made up of Italy, Indonesia and India.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT