The Centre announced on Monday that India's G20 Education Working Group (EWG) presidency is dedicated to advancing discussions from previous presidencies and addressing obstacles that hinder the full transformative potential of education. The key areas of focus include bridging gaps in quality education and skilling, as well as accelerating the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Renowned Indian-American mathematician Manjul Bhargava, a member of the Education Ministry's panel developing the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), emphasised the importance of ensuring Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for all children entering grade 3 by 2033. Bhargava suggested that G20 countries commit to this goal, while also stressing the need for dedicated financing, resources, legislation and international commitments to achieve universal FLN.
During the fourth and final EWG meeting of the G20, Bhargava highlighted the learning crisis revealed by various surveys, indicating a severe lack of these essential skills. He expressed hope that G20 member countries would make the commitment to achieve FLN during the forthcoming G20 Education Ministers' meeting. Bhargava emphasised the importance of continued collaboration among member countries and the global community, sharing experiences, best practices, and lessons learned to promote foundational learning.
Bhargava also emphasised the necessity of a developmentally-appropriate curriculum that is responsive and relevant to learners' developmental needs and interests at different stages of their education. FLN encompass the ability to read and write simple text and perform basic operations with numbers. Bhargava highlighted that FLN skills are not only crucial for future learning but also strongly correlated with a better quality of life.