CAPE TOWN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube called for stronger partnerships between government, universities, and communities to transform the country's education system.
Speaking at the Western Cape Provincial Education Indaba held in Cape Town, the country's legislative capital, on Monday, the minister emphasized that global debates on education must be grounded in the realities of local classrooms.
"As G20 president for 2025, South Africa has pledged to 'take the G20 to the people.' This is not a slogan, it is a commitment to ensuring that the ideas, policies, and priorities we shape globally are informed by the lived realities of our people," Gwarube said.
She highlighted two urgent priorities, namely strengthening foundational learning and preparing teachers for a changing world influenced by artificial intelligence, climate change, and migration.
"High-performing systems around the world inspire us, including Finland, where every teacher holds a master's degree, and Singapore, where universities and government work hand-in-hand to define and deliver excellence," said Gwarube.
"But these models cannot simply be copied. We must design a South African, and indeed a Western Cape model, rooted in our realities, enriched by global best practice, and driven by our vision for injecting excellence in our education system," she said.
The Indaba serves as a response to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent call for public involvement in the G20 discussions, focusing on the Education Working Group agenda for the 2025 summit.
The event, which drew hundreds of delegates from academics to teachers' unions and private sector partners, focused on six key action points for Western Cape Province, including aligning teacher training with policy priorities and addressing the balance between teacher supply and demand.
Gwarube urged all stakeholders to embrace shared accountability and collective leadership, warning that education transformation cannot be achieved by government alone.
"We need shared stewardship of the education system, one where accountability is reciprocal and leadership is collective," the minister stressed. ■
