In a significant address delivered during the G20 education ministers’ meeting in Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the vital role of AI in the field of education. He highlighted the immense possibilities offered by AI in learning and skills development, while acknowledging the challenges that accompany. Modi stressed the importance of striking the right balance in utilising AI for educational purposes.

The G20 ministers convened to officially accept the outcome documents, marking the culmination of extensive deliberations conducted within the education working group track over the past several months. These outcome documents will serve as a roadmap for coordinated global actions, aiming to ensure inclusive and high-quality education for all learners.

The education working group, which gathered in Chennai, Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, and Pune, focused on formulating inclusive solutions and collective actions to address global educational challenges. Their priorities encompassed foundational literacy and numeracy, inclusive and qualitative tech-enabled learning, capacity building for future work requirements, as well as fostering research and innovation through collaboration and partnerships.

During the meeting, a recorded message from Prime Minister Modi urged the G20 to play a pivotal role in leveraging technology to enhance global education. He emphasised the role of digital technology as an “equaliser” and a means to promote inclusivity, highlighting its potential to expand access to education and adapt to future needs. Additionally, Modi underscored the integration of technology with learning to enhance the e-learning experience. 

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He commended the Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), an esteemed e-learning portal providing remote access to courses from renowned institutions. SWAYAM has achieved remarkable enrollment numbers, offering a wide range of 9,000 courses from the 9th grade to the postgraduate level. 

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi proposed that G20 countries undertake international skill mapping to identify and address gaps in workforce capabilities. He stressed the necessity of continuous skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling of the youth to equip them for the future and align their competencies with evolving work profiles and practices.

 India has already initiated skill mapping efforts, and Modi encouraged other G20 nations to follow suit, fostering a collective approach to workforce development.