Ei-iE

For the first time in its decade-long existence, the G20, under the Argentinian Presidency, will focus on education. EI has been asked to contribute to the preparatory work of the education minister’s working group.

The G20, an assembly of governments created 10 years ago to deal with the financial/economic crisis, will, for the first time, focus on education and include a meeting of Education Ministers in early September. The government of Argentina chairs this year’s G20.

EI has been invited to help shape the agenda for the discussions. At the most recent working group meeting, in Geneva, EI was asked to present policy recommendations on “Teacher Training: Professional Development. Skilling and reskilling”. The group is also using and making available the EI publication from 2016, “Global Trends in TVET: a framework for social justice”

The OECD provides policy back up for the G20 process. In addition to its involvement with the working group on education, EI is involved in this process through its cooperation with the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC). Joint work helps to address both employment and education issues, which are linked in the G20 work, as well as to ensure that there is a comprehensive and coherent trade union approach.

The Argentinian Presidency will focus on the future of work, infrastructure for development, and a sustainable food future. In the dialogue process, EIs recommendations on the education and training aspects of the future of work will include the future of the teaching profession.

The G20 addresses broad policy issues as well as specific, timely questions. EI will stress the need to implement the sustainable development goals and, especially, goal 4 on education. Although employment aspects and the future of work are important, there are many other elements of education that are relevant to the work of the G20, including building cohesive, tolerant and more equal societies, peace, integration, social justice, and active citizenship.