New Delhi: The Ministry of Education is gearing up for the highly anticipated fourth and final Education Working Group (EDWG) meeting in Pune, Maharashtra, scheduled to take place from June 19 to 22, 2023. Under the theme of “Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning,” this significant event will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on June 22, 2023.
In a press conference held as a curtain-raiser for the upcoming G20 4th Education Working Group meeting, key officials including K Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education; Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of Department of School Education and Literacy; and Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, interacted with the media and provided insightful details regarding the forthcoming gathering and its associated events in Pune.
Sanjay Murthy revealed that, following the tradition of previous meetings, a seminar focused on the priority area of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will precede the main EdWG Meeting. Notably, esteemed panelists from countries such as Spain, Australia, Indonesia, US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and the UK have expressed keen interest in participating in this seminar.
As per the Ministry, a total of 14 ministers from nations including the UK, Italy, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Singapore, Oman, Mauritius, Japan, Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE, and the Netherlands have confirmed their participation in the ministerial meeting.
Additionally, the Department of Higher Education, in collaboration with ELSEVIER, will organize a seminar titled ‘Accessible Science: Fostering collaboration’ on June 16 at IISER, Pune. This precursor event aims to convene stakeholders from the scientific community to discuss best practices for accessible science, its application across different nations, and the role of science in supporting global progress.
Sanjay Kumar highlighted the precursor events organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy. Leading up to the main event, a 2-day National Conference on Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, themed ‘Creating the Base for Lifelong Learning,’ will be held from June 17 to 18 at Savitribai Phule University, Pune. This conference will facilitate the identification and discussion of best practices employed by states in fostering an environment conducive to foundational literacy and numeracy in young learners.
The conference will encompass two important themes: teaching-learning approaches and pedagogy for Foundation Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) in the context of Multilingualism, and capacity building and training of teachers in blended mode. Experts from various fields will share their experiences and insights, fostering joint initiatives, cross-learning, and addressing implementation challenges. Representatives from Education Departments of all states and union territories in India, knowledge partners of the Government of India (UNESCO and UNICEF), and civil society agencies are expected to participate in this event.
Concurrently, an exhibition showcasing innovative practices in education and FLN, digital initiatives, research, and skill development will be inaugurated on June 17 at Savitribai Phule University, Pune. This exhibition will feature the participation of approximately 100 exhibitors.
Furthermore, a series of engaging activities, including Janbhagidari events, workshops, exhibitions, seminars, and conferences, have been initiated at the state, district, block, panchayat, and school levels to involve people from all walks of life in the run-up to the fourth Education Working Group Meeting of G20. These activities have already witnessed an unprecedented level of interest and engagement, with over 2.33 crore participants, including 1.57 crore students, 25.46 lakh teachers, and 51.10 lakh community members, within just 12 days.
Atul Kumar Tiwari highlighted the success of Jan Bhagidari in Odisha and shared that a similar campaign, centered around 35 pre-identified themes such as financial literacy, is being conducted leading up to the 4th EdWG meeting. Tiwari further disclosed that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has mobilized over 2300 skill-based institutions and witnessed participation exceeding 10 lakhs in Jan Bhagidari activities nationwide.
Tiwari emphasized the consistent collaboration between MSDE and the Ministry of Education in the Education Working Group meetings. Additionally, the Ministry of Education has launched the ‘Shiksha Sankalp’ pledge on its portal, encouraging students, teachers, and the general public to commit to education and lifelong learning, contributing to the nation’s progress and personal growth. Within a week, more than 1.5 lakh people have already taken the pledge, showcasing their dedication to becoming responsible citizens of India.
(*This news has been taken from ANI)
 meeting in Pune, Maharashtra, scheduled to take place from June 19 to 22, 2023. Under the theme of "Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning," this significant event will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on June 22, 2023.){kind=link}