Bhaso Ndzendze

22 November 2025

The G20 Leaders’ Declaration was adopted on the 22nd of November 2025, in the opening plenary session chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Among the issues covered by the document are the mainstay of international relations, inclduing on conflict, terrorism, debt sustainability, and critical raw minerals. However, for those in my sector, it also has a focus on education (covering both basic and higher education), emphasising the importance of ever-shifting twenty-first century skills and the strained conditions under which educators have to work, and the impact of resources:

We recognise that developing education professionals for the 21st century involves integrating educators’ abilities to equip learners for an evolving society. We support greater recognition of the teaching profession, as a way to curb teacher shortages, especially in early and basic education. We emphasise the necessity to equip educators with appropriate pedagogies towards the 2030 core skills while also addressing issues related to inclusive digital access, technology infrastructure and connectivity, to overcome the digital divides for all.

Additionally, it is cognisant of the internationalisation of higher education:

We support enhanced implementation and cohesion of existing regional conventions on the recognition of qualifications, as well as the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, and promoting cooperation among signatory countries, and processes facilitated through the 2025-27 Global Convention work programme where appropriate and subject to national or domestic standards, frameworks and processes.

While not initiating anything specifically new, the language is encouraging and the 2025-27 Global Convention will enable further harmonization of standards and move the world closer to a fully integrated higher education system; one in which students and institutions do not have lose so much time and resources validating qualifications.