BRICS Education Ministers Unite to Tackle Global Challenges in Education

Collaboration for Educational Resilience

Bhubaneswar: On Friday, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi urged BRICS nations to collaborate in addressing shared challenges within the education sector, emphasizing that issues like resilience, innovation, and sustainability require collective action.

During the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting, which concluded with the endorsement of a five-point declaration, Joshi highlighted that India's leadership was driven by principles of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

Reiterating India's dedication to a 'people-centric' and 'humanity-first' approach in BRICS cooperation, he stated that innovation is crucial for evolving education systems to meet the needs of future generations.

Joshi elaborated on the significance of resilience, asserting that educational frameworks must be robust enough to endure disruptions from pandemics, economic fluctuations, climate challenges, and rapid technological advancements.

Regarding innovation, he remarked that education systems must not remain stagnant.

"The world is changing swiftly, and our educational frameworks must adapt to fulfill the aspirations of each new generation, preparing our youth for opportunities that may not yet exist," he noted.

He stressed the importance of collaboration, stating that cooperation and sustainability are vital for effectively tackling common challenges.

"While we can collectively face these challenges, none of us can do so alone. The knowledge we generate, the technology we create, and the institutions we fortify must benefit not just the current generation but also those to come," he added.

Joshi emphasized that education systems should equip young individuals for emerging opportunities while being grounded in human values.

He asserted that learners, educators, researchers, and youth should be central to policy-making and international collaboration.

According to Joshi, education is fundamental for inclusive growth and shared prosperity, and the adopted declaration reflects the unified commitment of BRICS nations to enhance cooperation in five key areas. He also highlighted the importance of safeguarding and promoting traditional and indigenous knowledge systems.

He remarked that innovation and heritage can complement each other.

"The rich civilizational traditions of BRICS countries offer a unique chance to preserve traditional knowledge, study it rigorously, and pass its value to future generations," he stated.

The meeting saw participation from ministers, senior officials, and delegates from BRICS member states, including Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE, all aimed at fostering cooperation within the BRICS Education Track.

The five priority areas agreed upon during the meeting include enhancing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).

"It was resolved to promote universal and inclusive access to quality ECCE, bolster school readiness, and advocate for age-appropriate digital solutions for early learning," an official reported.

The second consensus among BRICS nations was to enhance collaboration in skill development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The declaration acknowledged India's initiative to conduct an International Skill Gap Study, inviting participation from interested BRICS members on a voluntary basis.

The meeting also adopted a proposal to enhance research, innovation, and start-up ecosystems.

Under this agreement, BRICS nations will promote joint research, encourage the ethical and human-centered use of Artificial Intelligence in education, strengthen innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and deepen collaboration among higher education institutions, researchers, and start-up ecosystems.

The declaration also agreed to advance mutual recognition of qualifications (MRQ) and enhance capacity building for academic leadership and institutional development.

Prior to the ministerial meeting, the Ministry of Education hosted the 3rd BRICS senior officials' meeting under India's BRICS Chairship on August 5, 2026.

An official statement indicated that India will continue to host BRICS Ministerial Meetings across various sectors during its Chairship, culminating in the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2026, in New Delhi.