Yogyakarta, March 16, 2022
– The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) 2022 from March 16-18, 2022 commenced today in Yogyakarta. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia leads this year's series of G20 EdWG agendas as part of the effort to promote the main objective of achieving quality education system for all.
Indonesia's Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim delivered his remark at the meeting's opening to welcome delegates from G20 member countries, special invitees, and international organizations. Minister Makarim said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us to a moment of reflection regarding the challenges currently being faced by the education system.
Addressing delegates, Minister Makarim calls for optimizing collective efforts. "We are not doing enough, our way of life is not sustainable enough, not resilient enough, not equitable enough to face the next crisis, from personal and public health, our relationship with nature, and how we educate our children. We are not doing enough," said the youngest minister in Indonesia's cabinet.
The COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly disrupting education systems globally, affecting hundreds of millions of children around the world. "As the prosperity of our future depends on them, together we must bring about a fundamental change in our education system, making learning more relevant to the challenges of the 21st century," said Minister Makarim in his statement.
Under Minister Makarim's lead, Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology will take this opportunity to continue the G20 presidency as a momentum to lead the strengthening of the collaborations that have been carried out over the past two years. Collaboration is key to creating a more resilient, equitable and sustainable post-COVID future.
Minister Makarim added that Indonesia highly upholds the concept of collaboration. The history of Indonesia's independence is embedded with the value of supporting each other to reach a common goal or gotong royong, in accordance with the theme of this year's G20 presidency, 'Recover Together, Recover Stronger'.
"And today, with the First Education Working Group Meeting, marks one of our important milestones towards a better tomorrow. In the spirit of gotong royong, let's put the words 'Recover Together, Recover Stronger' into concrete, meaningful actions to give a quality education to every child in every country, for a better, sustainable future," concluded Minister Makarim.
On the first day of the meeting, the discussion is focused on Universal Quality Education and Digital Technologies in Education. Dr. Iwan Syahril, Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, acting as Chair of the G20 Education Working Group, opened the meeting. For three days, the meeting will be attended in person by 27 delegates. 64 delegates are participating virtually.
Watch the full video of Indonesia's Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim here:
