On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of G-20 nations finding the appropriate balance between the potential and risks provided by digital technology, which he referred to as a force multiplier for expanding access to education and preparing for the requirements of the future.
The Prime Minister addressed by video conference today to the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Pune and discussed the potential of artificial intelligence, which holds enormous potential for learning, skill development, and education.
The G20 countries, with their unique assets, can play a critical role in fostering research and innovation, particularly in the Global South, the Prime Minister emphasised. The dignitaries were urged by him to pave the way for more research collaborations.
The Prime Minister noted that education is not only the cornerstone upon which India’s civilization has been constructed, but it is also the architect of humanity’s future, and that continuous skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling are important to making youth future-ready.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting for the future of our children and youth and expressed satisfaction that the group had identified the green transition, digital transformations, and women’s empowerment as catalysts for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Education is at the root of all these efforts”, the Prime Minister said, as he expressed confidence that the outcome of the meeting will be an inclusive, action-oriented and future-ready education agenda.
“This would benefit the whole world in the true spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister shed light on the importance placed on research and innovation by pointing out that India has established 10,000 ‘Atal Tinkering Labs’ around the nation, which serve as research and innovation nurseries for our schoolchildren.
He stated that in these labs, more than 1.2 million creative projects are being worked on by more than 7.5 million pupils. He recited a Sanskrit verse that reads, “True knowledge gives humility, from humility comes worthiness, from worthiness one gets wealth, wealth enables a person to do good deeds, and this is what brings joy,” and he claimed that India has begun a holistic and all-encompassing path.
Modi emphasized that foundational literacy forms a strong base for the youth and that India is combining it with technology, and highlighted the ‘National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy”, or ‘Nipun Bharat’ initiative by the Government and expressed happiness that ‘Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’ has been identified as a priority by G20 as well.
PM Modi emphasised that youth must be continually skilled, reskilled, and up-skilled in order to prepare them for the future, and that their skills must be in line with changing job profiles and practises.
He also urged that the G-20 countries carry out skill mapping globally to identify gaps that need to be filled, noting that India is doing so where ministries are cooperating.
